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Wanjiru Surges to Olympic Marathon Title
Posted August 24th, 2008 at 9:05 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics
Like Usain Bolt in the 100 and 200 meters,
marathoner Sammy Wanjiru blew away the field and the Olympic record here today, surging away from a stacked field to win Kenya’s first ever Olympic Marathon gold medal. Just 21 years-old, Wanjiru won his
second marathon in three starts, getting under Carlos Lopes’s 1984 Games record by nearly three minutes. Unfazed by a blazing sun, he recorded a finish time which would win nearly any cool weather marathon in the spring or fall: 2:06:30.
“The best guy won today,” said 2004 ING New York City Marathon champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa. “He runs without fear.”
Wanjiru beat up on the field right from the opening gun. There would be no dawdling pace at the start of this marathon, not like so many other major championships in the past. Wanjiru and teammates Martin Lel and Luke Kibet got some unexpected assistance from the Eritreans Yared Asmerom and Yonas Kifle, and the pace was hot in the opening kilometers. The first 5 km went down in 14:52, a 2:05:28 marathon finish pace, dramatically faster than anyone had expected.
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Men Through 10k at Blistering Pace
Posted August 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics
The men are off to a blistering, almost 2:06 pace and are trying to take advantage of the fast course which begins adjacent to Tiananmen Square. This strategy is the opposite of what was employed by the women in their version of the Olympic marathon last week.
They ran the opening mile in 4:41, completed 5k in 14:52 (Ritz - 14:59, Hall -15:03) and are now through 10k in 29:25. Hall and Ritz trail by 23 and 25 seconds, both of whom are hoping that the leaders will fall off the pace and that they will be rested and ready to catch up.
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NYC Half Marathon: Tola Edges Makau to Win in 1:00:58
Posted July 27th, 2008 at 8:07 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing
- Tola, Tadesse (ETH) 1:00:58
- Makau, Patrick (KEN) 1:00:59
- Ritzenhein, Dathan (USA) 1:01:38
- Maiyo, Richard (KEN) 1:01:55
- Tola, Girma (ETH) 1:02:58
- Kipsang, William (KEN) 1:03:25
- Rotich, Hosea (KEN) 1:03:33
- Ramaala, Hendrick (SA) 1:04:07
- Beyi, Worku (ETH) 1:04:07
- Tefera, Demesse (ETH) 1:04:18
NYC Half Marathon: Pack of 4 Continue to Lead Men Through Mile 5 in 22:53
Posted July 27th, 2008 at 7:22 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing
The men’s lead pack of four just passed the 5 mile marker in 22:53 at today’s NYC Half-Marathon presented by Nike. The leaders include Tadesse Tola (ETH), Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) and Kenyan compatriots Patrick Makau and Richard Maiyo.
The next pack trails by about 8 seconds and it includes: Girma Tola (ETH), Hosea Rotich (KEN), William Kipsang (KEN), Felix Limo (KEN), Demesse Tefera (ETH) and Worku Beyi (ETH).
Complete Elite Fields for NYC Half-Marathon
Posted July 24th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing
The New York Road Runners (NYRR) have announced the complete, wlite fields for this Sunday’s NYC Half-Marathon Presented by Nike. TheFinalSprint.com will be at the race to provide live updates, press conference videos, interviews and more!
Bib First Last City State Nat. Affiliation DOB Age PB
MEN
2 Patrick Makau N’gong KEN adidas 02-Mar-85 23 58:56
3 Dathan Ritzenhein Eugene OR USA NIKE 30-Dec-82 25 1:01:25
4 Hendrick Ramaala Johannesburg RSA adidas 02-Feb-72 36 59:20
5 William Kipsang Eldoret KEN NIKE 01-Jan-77 31 1:00:25
6 Felix Limo Eldoret KEN adidas 22-Aug-80 27 1:01:12
7 Tadesse Tola ETH NIKE 31-Oct-87 20 1:01:37
8 Khalid El Boumlili MAR NIKE 10-Apr-78 30 1:01:12
9 Adam Goucher Portland OR USA NIKE 19-Feb-76 32 1:03:17
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London Marathon 2008: Elite Men’s Race Preview
Posted April 11th, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Even with the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the Flora London Marathon stands out as the most competitive distance race of the year. The 2008 edition features a mixture of accomplished marathon veterans and talented newcomers, all vying for spots on the prestigious London podium.
Leading the way will be defending London and New York champ Martin Lel. Lel won both of his titles last year in sprint finishes over Abderrahim Goumri, who will also be back for more. Lel’s London buildup has gone well, as he moved his camp to Namibia to train with 2007 Boston champ Robert Cheruiyot and avoid the recent violence in Kenya. He should once again be the favorite, although Goumri’s track pedigree (12:50 for 5k) will give him a chance if it again comes down to the last quarter mile.
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Ryan Hall: London ‘07: Lesson Learned
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #7)
Posted April 11th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Ryan Hall
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall
Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry at http://ryanhall.thefinalsprint.com/
I consider myself blessed to be able to look back on my marathon debut at the 2007 Flora London Marathon with fond memories. This time last year, to say the least, I was a little timid of the new and daunting distance I would be racing. I think every marathoner can probably look back on their first experience and recall their nerves. I remember very well being quite nervous as we ate our pre-race pasta dinner. I sat with my Mom and wife, my eyes drifted to the 2006 ING New York City Marathon champ, Gomez de Santos, who was finishing his meal quietly. One table over sat another ING New York City marathon Champ, Hendrick Ramaala, laughing as they chatted casually. It amazed me how relaxed and composed everyone seemed to be with less than 24 hours to go before gun time. As for me, I had to get out of that room if I was going to keep my composure, so my wife and I headed up to our room. On the way up we shared a memorable elevator ride with then-world-record-holder, Paul Tergat. To break the awkward silence Sara asked him what he was up to, but he misunderstood and responded, “Tomorrow is going to be fast, very fast.” Now I was really getting nervous.
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Cheruiyot, Wami Lead Galaxy of Stars at World Marathon Majors Races This Month
Posted April 1st, 2008 at 10:49 AM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The new era in long distance running continues with a galaxy of the sport’s brightest stars back in action this month as the World Marathon Majors series resumes at the Flora London Marathon and the 112th running of the Boston Marathon.
More than $850,000 in prize money, prestige and all important points in the race to crown the 2007-2008 WMM champions will be on the line in the British capital on Sunday, April 13 followed eight days later at the celebrated Hopkinton to Boston course on Monday, April 21.
Reigning women’s WMM champion Gete Wami of Ethopia leads the field in London while the WMM men’s champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya tops the field in Boston.
In London, United States sensation Ryan Hall makes his first start since winning the US Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon race last fall in New York. It will be his second consecutive appearance in London, following his breakthrough seventh place finish last year in his 26.2-mile debut.
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2008 Previews & Predictions: Men’s Marathon
Posted January 24th, 2008 at 1:38 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics
The marathon promises to be one of the most exciting events in the track and field world this coming year. From marquee matchups to record attempts, the Olympic Games to another Marathon Major Contest, 2008 should be another fantastic year for this historic distance. In the following paragraphs I will outline the cast of characters who will seek to etch their names in the history books in 2008. I will also offer one journalist’s thoughts on what could happen in the big races. It has been said that marathons are tremendously difficult to forecast, but rest assured that this former mediocre DIII runner has all the answers.
The first major (at least in the financial sense) marathon of 2008 was the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, held this past Sunday. The big news from this race was the world record attempt by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie. Fresh off his 2:04:26 world record in Berlin this past fall, “The Emperor” struck back with a 2:04:52, the second fastest time ever. Gebrselassie’s only fault was a blistering first half that left him a bit overextended and unable to hang on for the record. His time did serve notice, in case anyone wasn’t already convinced, that Geb will be a force to be reckoned with in this Olympic year as long as he can overcome the interaction of Beijing pollution and his severe allergies.
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Lel Leads Stacked Elite Field for 2008 London Marathon
Posted December 12th, 2007 at 10:15 AM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Martin Lel, the only man to ever win the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons in the same year, headlines London’s field for next April, race director Dave Bedford announced today.
The 29 year-old Lel, who won both the London and New York races in sprint finishes over Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri, also won London in 2005. He has a personal best time of 2:06:41.
“I am very pleased to be able to defend my title.,” Lel commented through a media release. “I am training hard to make sure I am in top shape for my bid to win a third time. I know it will be tough, but I love running in London and am confident I can win again.”
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- Zhou and Lel prevail in balmy 2007 London Marathon
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 […] - Kenya’s Lel wins 2007 London Marathon; Hall sets American debut record!
After a dramatic, gutsy finish - Kenya’s Martin Lel has become the 2007 London Marathon Champion in a time of 2:07.42!
Lel, who also won the race back in 2005, was able to out kick Morocco’s Goumri, who was making his debut appearance at the distance, and Felix Limo of Kenya.
Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib, the reigning world […] - Robert Cheruiyot chosen as year’s top male marathoner
Race Results Weekly (RRW), the wire service of distance running, also announced today that Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot has been chosen as the year’s top-ranked male marathon runner.
Cheruiyot, 28, who won both the BAA Boston and LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathons, got the #1 ranking over Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie because, according to RRW, “The fields he […] - Live @ the NYC Marathon: Men’s field filled with rivalries and rematches
This year’s ING New York City Marathon once again features a very competitive field; one where rematches and past rivalries are of overwhelming prevalence.
Three past men’s champions, another three former runner ups and several Olympic medalists highlight this very deep and talented men’s field;
There is the rematch between 2005 winner Paul Tergat of […] - The Final Sprint’s live coverage of the ING New York City Marathon
I am proud to report that The Final Sprint will be covering the ING New York City Marathon LIVE!
In addition to the race itself, we will be giving you the run-down on all of the “Marathon Week” events. This includes the press conferences at the world-famous Tavern on the Green in Central […] - Robert K. Cheruiyot and Berhane Adere Vault into World Marathon Majors Series Lead on the Streets of Chicago
PRESS RELEASE: Robert K. Cheruiyot’s dramatic victory in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon today not only secured him $140,000 in prize and bonus money, it also moved him into a commanding lead in the chase for the $500,000 that is awaiting the winner of the World Marathon Majors Series in 2007.
The Chicago race was […] - Three Former Champions to Run ING NYC Marathon; Hope to Reclaim Titles
PRESS RELEASE:It’s like a reunion of ING New York City champions as three former winner announce that they’re returning to reclaim their crowns
There must be something about New York: The top performers in previous ING New York City Marathons keep coming back for another challenge in the five boroughs.
The 2006 event is no exception. […]
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On August 29, 2008
Suzanne Walker Shaw said:
Jon- That was beautifully written, and such a true testament of the man you are....