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London Marathon 2008: Elite Women’s Race Preview
Posted April 11th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The women’s competition at the 2008 Flora London Marathon promises to be intense despite the absence of perennial favorite and World Record holder Paula Radcliffe, who recently withdrew due to a toe ailment. The race will still include a pair of Ethiopian stars as well as several other first class British marathoners. These women will be racing for one of the most prestigious titles in the marathon world as well as points in the World Marathon Majors contest.
Leading the way for the women will be the inaugural World Marathon Major Champion, Gete Wami of Ethiopia. Wami had a stellar track career before turning to the marathon, and has finished on the podium in numerous world class marathons. She won last fall’s Berlin marathon and finished second at London last year (to China’s Chunxiu Zhou). Her lifetime best of 2:21:34 ranks near the top of the field but is almost a minute slower than that of fellow Ethiopian Berhane Adere, whose 2:20:42 is the fastest in the field. Adere also sports an impressive marathon resume with two Chicago victories and the 2008 Dubai title to her credit. Adere will be looking to avenge a few uncharacteristically poor performances at London as her fourth and eleventh place finishes the last two years are far below her standards.
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Carlson and Kastor Win U.S. 15-K Road Running Titles
Posted March 8th, 2008 at 1:59 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Road Racing
In conditions so windy that water was blowing onto the course between the 5 km and 6 km marks, Andrew Carlson and Deena Kastor (Pictured) captured the U.S. 15-K road running titles this morning in Jacksonville, Fla., at the 31st Gate River Run.
Carlson was the big winner as he and three other men were able to catch Kastor who, along with the other elite women, were given a five minute headstart. Carlson won not only the $12,000 first place prize but an additional $5,000 bonus for winning the gender battle. He crossed the finish line about 25 seconds ahead of Kastor. It was Carlson’s first U.S. title at any distance on any surface, and he waited for Kastor at the finish line and congratulated her with a hug.
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Zhou and Lel prevail in balmy 2007 London Marathon
Posted April 23rd, 2007 at 9:07 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
As they mounted the top step of the podium near the finish line of the 26th Flora London Marathon, Zhou Chunxiu and Martin Lel basked in the warm sunshine which conspired with them to defeat two of the best marathon fields ever assembled.
With the mercury hitting 20°C (68°F) by the time the Zhou finished in a world leading 2:20:38, the warm temperatures combined with a cloudless sky had already taken its toll on some of the sport’s top stars.
Haile Gebrselassie, Stefano Baldini, Khalid Khannouchi, Meb Keflezighi, Galina Bogomolova, Ludmila Petrova, Kyoko Shimahara, Kathy Butler, Blake Russell, and Juan Carlos De La Ossa were just some of the athletes who couldn’t finish, while others were forced to jog the final miles to the finish.
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Zhou Chunxiu of China wins the 2007 London Marathon
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 6:30 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Zhou Chunxiu, last year’s Asian Games marathon gold medalist, became the first Chinese athlete to win the Flora London Marathon today. Sprinting to the finish line alone on the Mall, she broke the tape in 2:20:37 (unofficial).
Between 35 and 40 km, Zhou got away from Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat, who led most of the race, and Ethiopian Gete Wami. Wami held her form and finished second in 2:21:44, but Kiplagat fell back in the final kilometers. Constantina Tomescu of Romania came from fourth place to pass Kiplagat and finish third in 2:23:55.
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Women slowing; run slowest mile of the race
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:56 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
5:37 for the last women’s mile – which was the slowest of the race. However, they continue to slow down - so don’t be surprised if this mil ends up being even slower.
Kiplagat remains in front. Wami, who is uninterested in leading, remains only a stride or two behind – looking very comfortable.
Although Kiplagat looks great – she doesn’t seem to have enough to really seperate herself. She also just skipped a water stop - which may prove to be detrimental.
The 30k split for the women was 1:39:35.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Kiplagat still leads; Adere and Johnson are really struggling
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Kiplagat is continuing to push the pace. Wami and Zhou are struggling just a little to keep up and are consuming a lot of extra water.
Dita is now in fourth and Kosgei is in fifth.
Johnson has fallen to seventh as Yamauchi, who is looking very strong, passed her a moment ago. Yamauchi is on pace for about a 2:23 pace.
Adere, one of the most experienced women in the race, is now really struggling and is falling further back. Don’t be surprised if Adere continues to really fall back or even drops out.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Three female leaders packed closely for now, but Kiplagat beginning to speed-up again
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:30 AM by Kristin Bland
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Kiplagat, Zhou, and Wami are the three packed together in front. Kiplagat has frequently glanced over her shoulder to see how things are shaping up behind her and is starting to stretch the pace a bit.
The time at mile 17 time was 1:30:43 as the lead women, still close together, are now running in a single file line.
Adere is in fourth and Benita Johnson remains in fifth.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Kiplagat leads and picks up pace; Adere falling off a bit
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:23 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Lornah Kiplagat, the world 20km and XC champion, as well as Zhou and Wami lead the women.
Adere, the 2006 Chicago Marathon champ, has fallen just a few seconds behind the leaders as the pace has begun to pick up. Johnson continues to trail by about 30 seconds.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Women’s Half-Marathon Update
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:20 AM by Kristin Bland
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
The women’s half marathon split is 1:09:58 for the leading five; Zhou, Kiplagat, Adere, Wami, and Dita; and 1:10:37 for Johnson in sixth.
The Australian Beita Johnsosn is slowly dropping off even more (30 seconds or maybe even a bit more off the lead pack at this point). This was certainly not expected.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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Women finish first 20km
Posted April 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Live Race Coverage
After 20km, the women are on pace for a 2:20 finish. Zhou is in the lead; followed by Kiplagat and the other favorites.
However, Benita Johnson is now more than 30 seconds off the lead.
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Check back often for our LIVE coverage of the 2007 London Marathon at:
http://london.thefinalsprint.com
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What is your favorite running movie or documentary?
Recent Comments
Page 2 Articles
- After 15 miles Jeptoo, Jelena, Lidiya and Madai lead
Kastor has now fallen back 30 seconds off the pace after being 15 seconds back at the 14 mile mark.
Rita Jeptoo, Jelena Prokopcuka, Lidiya Grigo and Madai Perez are the leaders at 15 miles.
***** ***** ***** ***** […] - The glove’s have come off: At 14 miles Kastor begins to drop back as Jelena and Jeptoo lead
1:22:05 is the time for women at the 14 mile mark (5:32 last mile).
splitRita Jeptoo and Jelena Prokopcuka are leading the way and have shed some clothing; leading a totla of 5 women at the head of the women’s race.
Kastor has dropped back about 5 seconds behind the 5 leaders and Italy’s […] - 1:17:10 for Wommen at half-way mark of the 2007 Boston Marathon
The women have no reach the half-way mark in 1:17:10. They are running a 2:34 marathon pace right now (approximately). The cross-wind persists and the runners have to be very cold. The puddles in the road are also causing hazards along the way.
About a minute back, a few of the women behind […] - Women at Mile 12
The women are now at mile 12 in a time of 1:10:29 as they are taking advantage of a downhill stretch passing the college.
Rita Jeptoo remains in the lead; closely followed by the other 6 top women (including Kastor and Prokopcuka).
***** ***** ***** ***** […] - Women 11 Mile Update
The elite women are at a (very, very conservative) of 1:04:16 for 11 miles, with 7 runners still in the lead pack.
Deena has not taken the lead yet; smartly she has tucked in to conserve energy for the stretch run. Rita Jeptoo has started to edge toward the front, but […] - Elite Women’s Update as they pass miles 8 and 9
The women’s pack still has 8 members and is conversational at 8 miles. Jelena Prokopcuka is still mostly leading, but several women are now taking turns out front. These include the Boston-born Kastor, Kenyan Alice Chelangat, Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva, and Italian Giovanna Volpato.
Rita Jeptoo has elected to run out to the […] - Women’s 5 and 6 Mile Update; Lead Pack Intact as Jelena and Jeptoo alternate the lead
The elite women are still tightly packed at 5 miles (28:05, 2:27 pace). The lead pack has 8 or 9 members- Jelena Prokopcuka has been (almost exclusively) taking the wind, with Kastor, Jeptoo and a host of others drafting - until now as Jeptoo now is in front approaching the 6 mile mark.
They […] - Women’s Pack Intact Early
The Elite women have come through 2 miles in 11:09- and 16:36 is the time at 3 mile mark (on pace for about a 2:24 marathon). This is extremely solid given the conditions. All of the usual suspects are up front in an 8 person pack; including Jeptoo, Kastor, and Prokopcuka.
The […] - Women’s Elite Race is Underway!
The Elite Women’s Race is underway! The conditions are cold, windy, and rainy, but not nearly as bad as expected.
Deena Kastor, revealed in a pre-race interview that she is possibly in sub-2:20 shape, but will be conservative today as she tries to battle the elements; including a hard rain, 52 degree temperatures […]
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On September 7, 2008
Cris said:
Ryan, I am not a particularly religious man, but I am always inspired by you as an athlete and by your...