byLarry Eder
Wilson Chebet runs 2:05:27 at ABN AMRO Rotterdam, photo by PhotoRun.net
April 10 was a very busy day for marathoners. In the few races we list below, over 150,000 marathoners were worshiping Phidipidees, as they ran 26.2 miles ( I know, Phidipidees did not die from the 26.2 miles he ran that day (or 25 miles), it was probably the 100-150 miles he had run in the preceding days) in Rotterdam, Paris, Brighton, Daegu, MIlano, Linz and Debno.
Rotterdam was the fastest as Wilson Chebet ran 2:05.27 and Files Ongori ran 2:24.19. The men hit 1:02:07 for the halfway, then slowed under world record pace. 2:05.27 is now, the the world leader. Let us see what next weekend, with Virgin London and BAA Boston, brings to marathon geeks.
Files Ongori, wins 2011 ABN AMRO Rotterdam in 2:24:19, photo by PhotoRun.net
Image via Wikipedia
MARATHON FLASH
ROTTERDAM: 31st Rotterdam
was running more than first half at world record pace. Then the runners faded
but still respectable 2:05:27 (also world lead) for winning Wilson Chebet.
Second Vincent Kipruto 2:05:32. Kenyan Files Ongori clocked 2:24:19 ahead of
Dutch Hilda Kibet 2:24:26 as best women.
DAEGU: Kenyan Yusuf Songoka won the 3rd Daegu Marathon on the course of
summer World Championships clocking 2:08:08. Ethiopian favorite Atsede Habtamu
was the best woman in 2:25:52.
PARIS: The biggest marathon of the weekend was 35th jubilee Paris with nearly 40 000 runners. Benjamin
Kiptoo won in 2:06:31 ahead of Bernard Kipyego 2:07:16 and Ethiopian favorite
Eshetu Wondimu 2:07:33. Priscah Jeptoo improved hugely her best and was the
best woman in 2:22:55 ahead of Agnes Kiprop 2:24:43. Best European Margarita
Plaksina of Russia was fifth (2:27:07). This was an Kenyan affair.
BRIGHTON: Kenya’s
Philemon Kiprop Boit smashed the course record by almost three minutes when he
won the second Brighton marathon in 2:16:07.
First woman was the Liz McColgan-coached Alyson Dixon who obliterated the
inaugural record and set a qualifying time of 2:34:51 for the World
championships in Daegu later this summer. Informs Athletics Weekly.
MILANO: Solomon Bushendich fulfilled the favorite role at 11th Milano
City Marathon and achieved 2:10:38 to win. Second Italian Ruggero Pertile
clocked 2:11:23. In women race even better for home country, Marcella Mancini
won with 2:41:24.
LINZ: Tenth OMV Donau Marathon winner in Austria was pre-race favorite
Kenyan Nixon Machichim in 2:09:37. Croatian Lisa Stublic was the best woman and
improved her national record to 2:30:45.
DEBNO: Ukrainian Ivan Babaryka won the 38th Debno Marathon in personal
best 2:13:16 with Blazej Brzezinski getting the national title as second in
debut 2:14:16.
