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In Boston Cheruiyot Defends & Tune Wins Dramatic Sprint
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 6:00 PM by David Monti
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot won his fourth Boston Marathon and Dire Tune her first in a memorable 112th edition of America’s oldest and most historic marathon race.
Cheruiyot, the 29 year-old Kenyan who is the reigning World Marathon Majors champion, made a run at his own course record, leading a pack of six through the half-way in a brisk 1:03:07. Compatriots James Kwambai and James Mwangi Macharia joined him along with Moroccan Abderrahime Bouramdane and Ethiopians Kasime Adillo and Tesfaye Girma.
“As usual the course was very difficult and I tried to push harder this year to achieve my personal goal of running a 2:07,” said Cheruiyot.
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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: 22-yr old Dire Tune Wins Closest Boston Marathon in History
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
In the closest race in the 112 year history of the Boston Marathon, 22-yr old Dire Tune of Ethiopia defeated Russia’s 25-yr old stallion Alevtina Bikitimrova. Tune crossed the line in 2:25:21 and became the youngest Boston champion since 21-yr old American Joan Benoit Samuelson won the race in 1979.
Tune and Biktimirova traded the lead in dramatic fashion throughout the final 800m with each matching then other’s surge just when you thought they were done. Tune ultimately proved to be too strong as she took off with 100m to go, finished 2 seconds ahead of Biktimrova, and collapsed after breaking the tape.
Rita Jeptoo, the 2007 Boston Marathon Champion, finished third in a time of 2:26:34, over a minute behind Biktimirova. Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka came in fourth in 2:28:12 while Ethiopia’s Askale Tafa Magarsa rounded out the top five in 2:29:48. Defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva was part of the lead pack for the first half of the race but eventually faded to finish ninth in 2:35:37. Top American honors went to Ashley Anklam who ran 2:48:43 to finish an impressive 15th in a race where many top Americans were absent due to yesterday’s Olympic Marathon Trials.
Top Female Finishers:
1. Dire Tune ETH 2:25:25
2. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 2:25:27
3. Rita Jeptoo KEN 2:26:34
4. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 2:28:12.
5. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 2:29:48
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Tune, Biktimrova battle through final 3.2 miles in extremely close race
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:50 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage
Tune and Biktimirova a 5:12 mile between 22 and 23, and they continue to run essentially stide-by-side as they head towards the 24 mike mark.
Tune looks more comfortable than Bikitimirova at this point, and most believe the young Ethiopian also has better finishing speed. Therefore, Biktimrova needs to find a way to either make a move or hang with Tune and the legendary Ethiopian kick.
The next closest elite woman is Rita Jeptoo and she is almost 1:30 behind.
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Biktimirova, Tune battle it out through 20 miles in two-woman race
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:32 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Dire Tune, the 22-yr old phenom from Ethiopia, and Russia’s 25-year old Alevtina Biktimirova, who has eight top-three finishes in her young career, are not battling it out in what has become a two-woman race.
Between mile 19 and 20, Biktimirova ran a 5:23 mile … going UP Heartbreak Hill
The Ethiopians are known for their finishing kick speed and they longer she is able to hang on and stay on the heels of Biktimirova - the better the odds of her coming out on top. It is only a matter of time before the 22-yr old makes a move.
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Pack of four pull ahead of Prokopcuka; Tear through Mile 18
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:15 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Jelena Prokopcuka has been passed at mile 18 after being unable to keep up with the 5:10 pace run over the hills by Ethiopia’s Dire Tune, Russia’s Alevtina Biktimirova, and Kenya’s Magdaline Chemjor & Rita Jeptoo.
Prokopcuka, after initally falling back and starting to make a dent on the distance between her and the leaders, has now further even further back and is out of sight for those riding in the lead truck. We are hearing reports that she is at least 35 seconds back.
Bikitimirova is really pushing the pace, trying to win her first major, marathon title. Her previous victories have come in Honolulu (2007) and the European Championships (2006).
Top Women at 30k:
1. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 1:45:24
2. Dire Tune ETH 1:45:24
3. Rita Jeptoo KEN 1:45:24
4. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 1:45:29
5. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 1:45:52
6. Nuta Olaru ROM 1:46:05
7. Bruna Genovese ITA 1:46:43
8. Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 1:47:07
9. Robe Tola Guta ETH 1:47:40
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Prokopcuka back in front; Pack begins to spread out
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:12 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Latvian sports hero and World Marathon Major contender Jelena Prokopcuka is back in front as the ladies began to pick up the pace - ever so slightly - at mile 15. They are through 15 miles in 1:25:45; running the previous mile in 5:46.
Prokopcuka then went on to further pick up the pace and is showing a very efficient and quick leg turnover. She is now through 25k in 1:28:37 as the lead pack of thn has begun to spread out with Prokpcuka leading the last three in the pack by about 3 seconds.
Top Women at 25k:
1. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 1:28:37
2. Dire Tune ETH 1:28:37
3. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 1:28:37
4. Rita Jeptoo KEN 1:28:37
5. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 1:28:38
6. Nuta Olaru ROM 1:28:38
7. Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 1:28:39
8. Magdaline Chemjor KEN 1:28:40
9. Bruna Genovese ITA 1:28:40
10. Robe Tola Guta ETH 1:28:40
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Kenyans retake lead from Prokopcuka, Pack of ten still intact
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 10:56 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Although Prokopcuka’s move to push the pace and take the lead was short winded, the entire lead pack of ten women remains intact.
At the half-way point,Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo (Pictured), who won the Boston Marathon in 2006 in a time of 2:23:38, and Magdaline Chemjor, the 2007 ING Amsterdam Marathon Champion, regained the lead and passed through 13.1 miles in 1:14:45.
They have remained in nearly the same order, running the 14th mile in 5:55.
1. Magdaline Chemjor KEN 1:14:45
2. Rita Jeptoo KEN 1:14:45
3. Nuta Olaru ROM 1:14:45
4. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 1:14:46
5. Dire Tune ETH 1:14:46
6. Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 1:14:46
7. Robe Tola Guta ETH 1:14:46
8. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 1:14:46
9. Bruna Genovese ITA 1:14:46
10. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 1:14:46
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Prokopcuka takes lead, pushes the pace at mile 11
Posted April 21st, 2008 at 10:46 AM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons
Jelena Prokopcuka, the 2006 and 2007 ING New York City Marathon Champion, is the first to make a move. At the Mile 11 she took the lead and began to push the pace; taking advantage of the water stop and downhill portion of the course. The women ran mile 10 and mile 10 in 5:57, a very slow pace for these elites.
The lead pack of ten includes: Russians’s Prokopcuka and Biktimrova, Grigoryeva, Kenya’s Jeptoo and Chemjor, Romania’s Nuta Olaru, Italy’s Bruna Genovese, and Ethiopia’s Robe Tola Guta, Askale Tafa Magarsa, Dire Tune.
For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:
Boston Marathon 2008:
Elite Women’s Preview
Posted April 20th, 2008 at 7:15 PM by Jared Markowitz
Section: News & Results, Marathons
The Women’s race at the 2008 Boston Marathon will feature two former champions and a host of strong challengers. Both 2006 champion Rita Jeptoo (Kenya), and 2007 champion Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) will be back shooting for their second Boston title. They will be challenged by two-time New York winner and Boston runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) for both the Boston Marathon championship and points in the World Marathon Majors standings.
Last year’s race provided an interesting preview for the 2008 edition, as Grigoryeva prevailed over Jeptoo, Prokopcuka, and American record holder Deena Kastor in brutally windy and rainy conditions to take her first major title. Grigoryeva and Prokopcuka were clearly the strongest runners on that day, with Grigoryeva capitalizing on Prokopcuka’s aggressive early pace and willingness to take the wind throughout. These two seem destined for a rematch, with Jeptoo clearly a factor as well.
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Prokopcuka, Grigoryeva Headline Elite Women’s Field at 2008 Boston Marathon
Posted February 13th, 2008 at 11:32 AM by Martin Kennedy
Section: News & Results, Marathons
In its 23rd year as the principal sponsor of the
The blend of athletes with experience on the course and those new to the challenges of the hilly Hopkinton to Boston route should lead to a highly competitive race. Collectively the group has won 18 international marathons in the past three years and the top nine contenders have less than a three-minute differential in their personal best times. In addition, the athletes will be vying for a top Boston showing to secure a position on their country’s Olympic teams.
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On October 13, 2008
Jonathan Annis said:
Hello Mr. Hall, First of all I want to say good job on the Chicago marathon yesterday, I had...