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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Peter Gilmore [MarathonGuide.com] of San Mateo, CA started his year and preparation for April’s Flora London Marathon with a victory at the Surf City USA Half Marathon on Sunday.
Gilmore edged Russia’s Dmitry Safronov by 11 seconds and set a new course record despite the poor weather conditions with a time of 1:03:53.
Although the race was largely a tune-up for London, Gilmore’s record-setting time and first place finish were welcome successes after being forced to drop out of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials last November due to illness.
With a win and successful 2008 debut under his belt, Gilmore now faces the arduous task of going up against an extremely competitive elite men’s field in London that includes reigning World and Olympic marathon champions Luke Kibet and Stefano Baldini, former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat, defending London and 2005 champion Martin Lel, world half-marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru, former double World Champion Jaouad Gharib, and fellow Americans Ryan Hall and Olympic silver medalistMeb Keflezighi.
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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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French language wire services are reporting that two-time world marathon champion, Jaouad Gharib, was OK after being involved in a serious car accident in Morocco. The accident took place on Dec. 21, on the road between Meknès and Khénifra where the athlete was driving to visit his family for a holiday. His 4×4 flipped, causing mostly minor injuries.
You can read the story here (in French). Thanks to Carole Fuchs for pointing out the story, and we wish Jaouad a speedy recovery and return to training.
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200712240844.html
World, national and course records, thrilling finishes, more than 300,000 participants, and a championship race that went down to the final day highlighted the inaugural 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series, and ushered in a brand new era of growth and excitement in the sport.
After a six month break, the excitement will continue at the 2008 Flora London Marathon on April 13, followed eight days later by the 112th Boston Marathon on April 21.
Here is a look back at some of the many highlights from the 2006-2007 World Marathon Majors Series:
Record Breakers:
* 2006: Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) sets a course record of 2:07:14 at the 110th Boston Marathon.
* Deena Kastor (USA) sets a new American record of 2:19:36 in winning the 2006 Flora London Marathon, becoming the eighth woman to break 2:20:00.
* Ethiopians Haile Gebrselassie (2:05:56) and Gete Wami (2:21:34) each set national records in victory at the 2006 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
* Gebrselassie sets a new world record of 2:04:26 at the 2007 real,-BERLIN-MARATHON.
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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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Former world record holder in the marathon, Paul Tergat, has abruptly withdrawn from Sunday’s Fukuoka Marathon, according to a published report on the website of Japan’s largest English language newspaper, The Daily Yomiuri.
According to the report, Tergat was called to attend a special Kenyan armed forces training camp. The report said that the information came from the organizers of the marathon itself.
Tergat, 38, was the headline athlete for what is widely regarded as Japan’s most competitive men’s marathon. The race will be held for the 61st time on Sunday. Organizers have used a time-honored formula of inviting a handlful of top overseas athletes, combining them with a group of Japanese stars, and leading them along the course through 30 km with pacemakers who try to help the top runners to a sub-2:07 finish time. In a typical year, only about 300 athletes compete at Fukuoka, and it was to be Tergat’s Fukuoka debut.
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The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon was a hot, humid war of attrition. A pack of 15 men averaged 5:00 to 5:10 miles throughout the race.
In the end, race came down to two men: Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and Patrick Ivuti of Kenya. Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN), 2006 winner, had succumbed to the heat and stomach cramps and was out of contention with a few miles to go.
Gharib, with a 13:19 5000m, had the ability to kick. Ivuti, with a 5000m PB of 13:02:68, had the advantage.
During the last mile, Gharib was bumping Ivuti a little, playing mind games. Having none of it, Ivuti was pushing back.
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At 35K, the four leaders are still going strong. Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN), Daniel Njenga (KEN), Jaouad Gharib (MAR) and Patrick Ivuti (KEN). With seven miles to go, one of them is about to bust the race wide open. With the heat, though, they are holding on until the last possible minute before one of them decides to make it an honest pace. They’ve run the last 3 miles in 5:04, 5:09 and 5:10, obviously resting for a major surge. With 3 1/2 miles to go, Ivuti makes the decision to go and Gharib goes with him. Cheruiyot, surprisingly, has no answer for them. Njenga, not surprisingly, has nothing left and is unable to respond to the surge.
Ivuti has the track speed, having placed 4th in the 2000 Olympic 10000m run in Sydney. Gharib starts hammering and Ivuti is able to respond to every move. They have put in a mile of 4:55.
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The men go through the 30K mark in 1:33:05, on pace for a 2:10:55 marathon. It’s down to four men: Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN), Jaouad Gharib (MAR), Patrick Ivuti (KEN) and Daniel Njenga (KEN). Njenga has made a herculean effort to get to the lead pack, so he is at a disadvantage, having wasted valuable energy. The last mile was run in 4:59. In 5th, Ben Maiyo (KEN) is 21 seconds back. In 6th, Jimmy Muindi (KEN) is 54 seconds back.
Just under 36,000 people have started the race. It is a sweltering 87 degrees at street level.
The lead pack of four men is averaging about 5:00 miles, but they keep throwing in surges at a 4:40 mile pace.
Michael Cox is the only American on pace to qualify for the Olympic Trials. He is on pace for a 2:19:42 marathon. Andrew Middleton still has a chance to make the 2:22 qualifying mark. He is on pace for a 2:22:09.
The leaders hit the 20 mile mark in 1:40:05. The last mile was run in 5:04. Cheruiyot is setting the pace. Cheruiyot, Gharib and Ivuti are running side-by-side. Njenga is tucked in right behind them, taking advantage of the wind they are cutting.
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Check back often for TheFinalSprint.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2007 Chicago Marathon, sponsored by Ultima Replenisher, at:
http://chicago.thefinalsprint.com
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