Jolie Rouge
11-04-2002, 10:27 AM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/athletics/news/2002/11/03/marathon_rdp_ap/
'This time was my time'
Kenyans first, blind runner fifth in NYC Marathon
NEW YORK (AP) -- After some early jostling and a late fall that hurt the legs and hopes of two contenders, Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya pulled away from her last challenger with a fierce charge Sunday to win the New York City marathon for her first victory in two years.
She finished in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 56 seconds, in cool temperatures and no wind. Los Angeles Marathon champion Lyubov Denisova of Russia was next, 21 seconds behind. Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia was third, despite taking a tumble.
Rodgers Rop of Kenya won the men's title in 2:08:07. Countrymen Christopher Cheboiboch (2:08:17) and Laban Kipkemboi (2:08:39) followed. Rop won the Boston Marathon in April.
For the first time, the top women started about 30 minutes ahead of the men. The idea was to give the women a chance at the spotlight, and also to allow them to run without having to navigate crowded roads.
Still, there was some bumping. About 16 kilometers (10 miles) in, European champion Maria Guida of Italy crossed in front of Runyan and both slightly stumbled. They threw their arms out to regain balance, and neither fell. Guida did quit a few kilometers (miles) later, though.
Most significantly, Jevtic and Kerryn McCann of Australia were part of a spread-out lead pack of eight runners at the 34th kilometer (21st mile) when their feet tangled at a turn.
Both fell face down, one on top of the other. Jevtic, running her first NYC Marathon, got right back up and immediately moved just off the shoulders of leaders Denisova and Chepchumba. McCann scraped her knee, was in tears, and limped slightly as she ran. The commotion allowed the two frontrunners to break away.
Chepchumba and Denisova were going stride-for-stride into the 39th kilometer (24th mile). That's when the Kenyan made her move.
She pulled off her black wool gloves, threw them down, and looked over at Denisova as if to say, "OK, no more kidding around!" And with that, Chepchumba pulled away, putting a comfortable margin between herself and Denisova just before entering Central Park.
Marla Runyan, the first legally blind Olympian and attempting a marathon for the first time, was the top U.S. finisher. She was fifth overall, just ahead of defending champion Margaret Okayo.
Rop, who lives part of the year in Germany, is just the fourth man to win at Boston and New York in the same year. He made his first serious move on the downhill stretch just after the leaders crossed the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan about two-thirds of the way through.
While others would occasionally pull alongside him, he was clearly in control over the final 9 kilometers (5 1/5 miles). Cheboiboch also pulled off his gloves as he made one last try to catch up, but he couldn't.
Rop was near the lead for most of last year's race, too, but was hampered by leg cramps and finished third behind Tesfaye Jifar (who dropped out this year at about the halfway mark with stomach problems).
It's the first time since the United States did it in 1975 that one country swept the first three men's places.
Like Rop, Chepchumba has had success elsewhere. She was the bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the Tokyo Women's Marathon that year, and captured the marathons at both London and Chicago in 1999.
But she's always come up just short in New York, having finished fourth in 1995, third in 1996, and fourth last year.
"This time was my time," Chepchumba said.
The top female entrants were the only runners at the starting line at 10:35 a.m. (1535 GMT). Everyone else started about 30 minutes later.
So instead of a jostling pack of thousands crossing a bridge en masse at the outset, a group of 25 women propelled themselves along the span -- like a collection of friends out for a run on a Sunday morning.
It's not the first time the idea was raised.
In the first NYC Marathon, in 1970, just one woman entered, and she didn't finish. At the 1972 marathon, organizers wanted to give the six female participants a 10-minute head start. But the women sat at the starting line in protest -- one holding a sign that read, "Hey, this is 1972," -- and waited to start running at the same time as the men.
This year's entrants were in favor of the change, with Olympic 5,000-meter silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan (12th Sunday) saying during the week: "It becomes more of a proper race when it's women only."
Kenyans sweep Athens Marathon
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Mark Saina led a triple Kenyan sweep Sunday in the Athens Marathon, a race that follows the ancient route for which the event is named.
Saina won in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 17 seconds after fending off a late challenge from John Moiben and Elijah Korir.
"I feel great. The weather was nice this year," said Saina, shaking from exhaustion under a foil wrap.
Moiben was 25 seconds behind Saina, while Korir trailed by 35 seconds.
Germany's Sonja Krolik-Oberem -- who finished third in Munich three months ago -- won the women's competition in 2:37:21. She beat Georgia Ambatzidou of Greece -- 2:47:22 -- and the Russian Victoria Zueva, who clocked 2:49:244.
"I was slower than last year," said Krolik, who has been facing problems with the back since the Munich race. "I decided to run slower, not take the risk of an injury. So I am not so happy with the time, but the success is more important."
The three top Kenyans were among about 20 elite runners invited to Athens in an effort to raise the standard of the long-neglected Greek race before the 2004 Olympics.
More than 2,500 runners registered for the marathon and another 1,500 for a 10-kilometer race which both ended at Athens' marble Panathenian stadium.
The race, from the village of Marathon to Athens, was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, the ancient messenger. He brought Athens news of victory in the 490 B.C. Battle of Marathon against an invading Persian army.
The marathon was first run to the marble stadium in 1896, when the ancient Olympics were revived in Athens. An almost identical route will be followed at the 2004 Summer Games.
Bill Adcocks, the veteran British marathon runner and holder of the Athens record since 1969, fired the gun at the start of the race Sunday.
"Unlike in my day, when you were almost considered to be an idiot if you were to run 26 miles or 42 kilometers, today it is nice to know that there are so many more idiots around the world who are willing to do it," he told reporters Friday.
Adcocks, who had clocked 2 hours, 11 minutes, 07 seconds, some 33 years ago on the original marathon course, stressed that although there are many more marathons around the world today, "it is this race, or this course, which has played a vital role in the event ever since 1896."
Athens Classic Marathon organizers have promised to boost the race's profile worldwide, having introduced improvements over the past two years.
Sunday's race featured cash prizes -- the winners each get 6,000 euros ($5,880) -- more water stops and medical facilities, as well as the use of "running chips" attached to runners' shoes to log times automatically.
"This year's goal ... was to provide more services to participating athletes," said Vassilis Sevastis, head of Greece's amateur athletic association.
Sevastis said athletes have responded positively to recent changes, adding that next year's Athens Classic Marathon will be the "test race" for the 2004 summer Olympics.
Results -- Men
Rk. Runner Country Time
1. Rodgers Rop Kenya 2:08:07.
2. Christopher Cheboiboch Kenya 2:08:17.
3. Laban Kipkemboi Kenya 2:08:39.
4. Mohamed Quaadi France 2:08:53.
5. Stefano Baldini Italy 2:09:12.
6. Mark Carroll Ireland 2:10:54.
7. Gert Thys S. Africa 2:11:48.
8. Matt O'Dowd England 2:12:20.
9. Meb Keflezighi U.S. 2:12:35.
10. Stephan Ndungu Kenya 2:13:28.
Results -- Women
Rk. Runner Country Time
1. Joyce Chepchumba Kenya 2:25:56.
2. Lyubov Denisova Russia 2:26:17.
3. Olivera Jevtic Yugoslavia 2:26:44.
4. Esther Kiplagat Kenya 2:27:00.
5. Marla Runyan U.S. 2:27:10.
6. Margaret Okayo Kenya 2:27:46.
7. Kerryn McCann Australia 2:27:51.
8. Lornah Kiplagat Kenya 2:28:41.
9. Ludmila Petrova Russia 2:29:00.
10. Milena Glusac U.S. 2:31:14.
'This time was my time'
Kenyans first, blind runner fifth in NYC Marathon
NEW YORK (AP) -- After some early jostling and a late fall that hurt the legs and hopes of two contenders, Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya pulled away from her last challenger with a fierce charge Sunday to win the New York City marathon for her first victory in two years.
She finished in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 56 seconds, in cool temperatures and no wind. Los Angeles Marathon champion Lyubov Denisova of Russia was next, 21 seconds behind. Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia was third, despite taking a tumble.
Rodgers Rop of Kenya won the men's title in 2:08:07. Countrymen Christopher Cheboiboch (2:08:17) and Laban Kipkemboi (2:08:39) followed. Rop won the Boston Marathon in April.
For the first time, the top women started about 30 minutes ahead of the men. The idea was to give the women a chance at the spotlight, and also to allow them to run without having to navigate crowded roads.
Still, there was some bumping. About 16 kilometers (10 miles) in, European champion Maria Guida of Italy crossed in front of Runyan and both slightly stumbled. They threw their arms out to regain balance, and neither fell. Guida did quit a few kilometers (miles) later, though.
Most significantly, Jevtic and Kerryn McCann of Australia were part of a spread-out lead pack of eight runners at the 34th kilometer (21st mile) when their feet tangled at a turn.
Both fell face down, one on top of the other. Jevtic, running her first NYC Marathon, got right back up and immediately moved just off the shoulders of leaders Denisova and Chepchumba. McCann scraped her knee, was in tears, and limped slightly as she ran. The commotion allowed the two frontrunners to break away.
Chepchumba and Denisova were going stride-for-stride into the 39th kilometer (24th mile). That's when the Kenyan made her move.
She pulled off her black wool gloves, threw them down, and looked over at Denisova as if to say, "OK, no more kidding around!" And with that, Chepchumba pulled away, putting a comfortable margin between herself and Denisova just before entering Central Park.
Marla Runyan, the first legally blind Olympian and attempting a marathon for the first time, was the top U.S. finisher. She was fifth overall, just ahead of defending champion Margaret Okayo.
Rop, who lives part of the year in Germany, is just the fourth man to win at Boston and New York in the same year. He made his first serious move on the downhill stretch just after the leaders crossed the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan about two-thirds of the way through.
While others would occasionally pull alongside him, he was clearly in control over the final 9 kilometers (5 1/5 miles). Cheboiboch also pulled off his gloves as he made one last try to catch up, but he couldn't.
Rop was near the lead for most of last year's race, too, but was hampered by leg cramps and finished third behind Tesfaye Jifar (who dropped out this year at about the halfway mark with stomach problems).
It's the first time since the United States did it in 1975 that one country swept the first three men's places.
Like Rop, Chepchumba has had success elsewhere. She was the bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the Tokyo Women's Marathon that year, and captured the marathons at both London and Chicago in 1999.
But she's always come up just short in New York, having finished fourth in 1995, third in 1996, and fourth last year.
"This time was my time," Chepchumba said.
The top female entrants were the only runners at the starting line at 10:35 a.m. (1535 GMT). Everyone else started about 30 minutes later.
So instead of a jostling pack of thousands crossing a bridge en masse at the outset, a group of 25 women propelled themselves along the span -- like a collection of friends out for a run on a Sunday morning.
It's not the first time the idea was raised.
In the first NYC Marathon, in 1970, just one woman entered, and she didn't finish. At the 1972 marathon, organizers wanted to give the six female participants a 10-minute head start. But the women sat at the starting line in protest -- one holding a sign that read, "Hey, this is 1972," -- and waited to start running at the same time as the men.
This year's entrants were in favor of the change, with Olympic 5,000-meter silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan (12th Sunday) saying during the week: "It becomes more of a proper race when it's women only."
Kenyans sweep Athens Marathon
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Mark Saina led a triple Kenyan sweep Sunday in the Athens Marathon, a race that follows the ancient route for which the event is named.
Saina won in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 17 seconds after fending off a late challenge from John Moiben and Elijah Korir.
"I feel great. The weather was nice this year," said Saina, shaking from exhaustion under a foil wrap.
Moiben was 25 seconds behind Saina, while Korir trailed by 35 seconds.
Germany's Sonja Krolik-Oberem -- who finished third in Munich three months ago -- won the women's competition in 2:37:21. She beat Georgia Ambatzidou of Greece -- 2:47:22 -- and the Russian Victoria Zueva, who clocked 2:49:244.
"I was slower than last year," said Krolik, who has been facing problems with the back since the Munich race. "I decided to run slower, not take the risk of an injury. So I am not so happy with the time, but the success is more important."
The three top Kenyans were among about 20 elite runners invited to Athens in an effort to raise the standard of the long-neglected Greek race before the 2004 Olympics.
More than 2,500 runners registered for the marathon and another 1,500 for a 10-kilometer race which both ended at Athens' marble Panathenian stadium.
The race, from the village of Marathon to Athens, was inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, the ancient messenger. He brought Athens news of victory in the 490 B.C. Battle of Marathon against an invading Persian army.
The marathon was first run to the marble stadium in 1896, when the ancient Olympics were revived in Athens. An almost identical route will be followed at the 2004 Summer Games.
Bill Adcocks, the veteran British marathon runner and holder of the Athens record since 1969, fired the gun at the start of the race Sunday.
"Unlike in my day, when you were almost considered to be an idiot if you were to run 26 miles or 42 kilometers, today it is nice to know that there are so many more idiots around the world who are willing to do it," he told reporters Friday.
Adcocks, who had clocked 2 hours, 11 minutes, 07 seconds, some 33 years ago on the original marathon course, stressed that although there are many more marathons around the world today, "it is this race, or this course, which has played a vital role in the event ever since 1896."
Athens Classic Marathon organizers have promised to boost the race's profile worldwide, having introduced improvements over the past two years.
Sunday's race featured cash prizes -- the winners each get 6,000 euros ($5,880) -- more water stops and medical facilities, as well as the use of "running chips" attached to runners' shoes to log times automatically.
"This year's goal ... was to provide more services to participating athletes," said Vassilis Sevastis, head of Greece's amateur athletic association.
Sevastis said athletes have responded positively to recent changes, adding that next year's Athens Classic Marathon will be the "test race" for the 2004 summer Olympics.
Results -- Men
Rk. Runner Country Time
1. Rodgers Rop Kenya 2:08:07.
2. Christopher Cheboiboch Kenya 2:08:17.
3. Laban Kipkemboi Kenya 2:08:39.
4. Mohamed Quaadi France 2:08:53.
5. Stefano Baldini Italy 2:09:12.
6. Mark Carroll Ireland 2:10:54.
7. Gert Thys S. Africa 2:11:48.
8. Matt O'Dowd England 2:12:20.
9. Meb Keflezighi U.S. 2:12:35.
10. Stephan Ndungu Kenya 2:13:28.
Results -- Women
Rk. Runner Country Time
1. Joyce Chepchumba Kenya 2:25:56.
2. Lyubov Denisova Russia 2:26:17.
3. Olivera Jevtic Yugoslavia 2:26:44.
4. Esther Kiplagat Kenya 2:27:00.
5. Marla Runyan U.S. 2:27:10.
6. Margaret Okayo Kenya 2:27:46.
7. Kerryn McCann Australia 2:27:51.
8. Lornah Kiplagat Kenya 2:28:41.
9. Ludmila Petrova Russia 2:29:00.
10. Milena Glusac U.S. 2:31:14.