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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Athens Classic Marathon
Picks Up the Pace

Posted November 7th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Kenyan Benjamin Korir Kiprotich and Russia’s Svetlana Ponomarenko won the 25th Athens Classic Marathon today. In mild weather conditions with temperatures around a maximum of 20° Celsius and an occasional light rain winning times were much faster than in the years before. Benjamin Korir Kiprotich clocked 2:14:40 on the classic route from Marathon to Athens’ Panathinaikon Stadium while Svetlana Ponomarenko crossed the line in 2:33:19.

Kenyans had won the Athens Classic Marathon three times in a row. And they dominated the race again today, extending their win streak. Eight of them formed the leading group when the half way point was passed in 68:07 minutes. At about 35 k Benjamin Korir Kiprotich broke away and opened a decisive gap.
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Deena Kastor ready for rematch with Prokopcuka and Jeptoo at Boston Marathon

Posted March 29th, 2007 at 2:10 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Finishing sixth at last November’s ING New York City Marathon was a bitter disappointment for Deena Kastor, the USA record holder for the distance.

She had prepared thoroughly for the storied race, but made a fatal tactical error when she did not respond to a mid-race breakaway by Ukrainian Tatiana Hladyr and Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka.

Kastor finished sixth in 2:27:54, more than eight minutes slower than her American record at London last April, while Prokopcuka went on to defend her New York crown and took the lead in the World Marathon Majors points chase.

But on Monday, April 16, at the 111th Boston Marathon, Kastor will get another crack at the Latvian, a gritty competitor who has won three of her last four marathons and finished second at Boston last year. Speaking via teleconference yesterday from the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., Kastor said she is ready for the rematch.
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