by Larry Eder
Kim Smith, the Kiwi marathoner, who had run 1:07.36, took the lead early, hellbent on running a fast race. In perfect conditions, with a tailwind, Smith lead the field through 5k, in 16.41, 10k in 33.29, 15k in 50.09 and 20k in 67.06. Kim Smith had built up her lead to 50 seconds at 20 kilometers.
Kim Smith hit the halfway point in 1:10.43. Kim Smith looked nearly unbeatable, as the chasing pack, consisting of Caroline Kilel, Desiree Davila, Dire Tune, Caroline Rotich, Kara Goucher and Yolanda Cabillero, were catching up.
Kim Smith lead at 25km in 1:24.15, where she had lead of 19 seconds. In between 16 and 17, Kim Smith grimaced and grabbed her calves in pain. She ran the next mile in six minutes. The pack swallowed Smith up and spit her out-she dropped out before 20 miles.
By 20 miles, Kara Goucher was in seventh, Dire Tune was in fifth, and Sharon Cherop, Caroline Kilel and Des Davila were running together. The American, Davila went into the lead just around 35k, hitting that in 1:58.38.
Between 35k and 40 kilometers, Caroline Kilel, looking to be struggling, and Des Davila, very controlled, surged and surged, with Sharon Cherop barely holding on.
The race continued to be quite exciting, as Des Davila tried to win and Caroline Kilel tried to win.
Over the final mile, the lead changed three times, with Des Davila taking the lead with 1,200 meters to go, and Kilel grabbing the lead with 400 meters to go.
Sharon Cherop, who had been struggling, began to move with 400 meters to go, as Des Davila was passed and Caroline Kilel willed herself across the finish line in 2:22.36.
Des Davila, 2011 BAA Boston Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Desiree Davila of the U.S. ran 2:22.38, her best by four minutes, for second place. Sharon Cherop of Kenya, running 2:22.42, held on for third.
Caroline Rotich, Kenya, ran 2:24.26 for fourth place. Kara Goucher, six months after having her son Colt, ran a pb of 2:24.52.
After the race, when asked what Caroline would spend her winnings on, she giggled, taking it all in and noted, ” I will buy a plot of land to build a new house.” Well said, well said.
Note that this race was the fastest for women since 1994! Des Davila ran the fastest time EVER for an American women on this course!
Also note that, due to the IAAF rule on Gold Label marathons, all marathoners in the top ten, men and women, will now have reached the Olympic A standard. David Katz, IAAF member of the Technical committee and measurer of the 2012 London Olympic race course, told RBR that as ” the IAAF understands that competition is the key in Gold Label races, and as marathoners only run once, maybe twice a year, this new rule allowing marathoners to qualify through Gold Label races such as INY New York, Bank of America Chicago and BAA Boston.”
Women’s 2011 BAA Boston Marathon top ten
1. Caroline Kilel, Kenya, 2.22.36
2. Desiree Davila, USA, 2.22.38-PB
3. Sharon Cherop, Kenya, 2.22.48
4. Caroline Rotich, Kenya, 2.24.26
5. Kara Goucher, USA, 2.24.52-PB
6.Dire Tune, Ethiopia, 2.25.08
7. Werknesh Kidane, Ethiopia, 2.26.15
8. Yolanda Caballero, Columbia, 2.26.17
9. Alice Timbilli, Kenya, 2.26.34
10. Yuliya Ruban, Ukraine, 2.27.00
For more on the Boston Marathon, please go to: www.bostonmarathon.com.
