by Larry Eder
Jafred Chirchir Kipchumba, 2011 MarathonEindhoven,
photo courtesy of Marathon Eindhoven/Nico Delmeire
Georgina Rono, 2011 Marathon Eindhoven,
photo courtesy of Marathon Eindhoven/Nico Delmeire
photo courtesy of Marathon Eindhoven/Nico Delmeire
Georgina Rono, 2011 Marathon Eindhoven, photo courtesy of Marathon Eindhoven/Nico Delmeire
Peer Pulles, the race director at Marathon Eindhoven’s dream was to have a top ten fastest marathon. Well, he got two course records today and the fifth fastest marathon course of the year! Phil Minishul of spainsports wrote this piece on today’s Marathon Eindhoven!
Kenya’s Kipchumba
and Rono run course records at the Marathon Eindhoven
and Rono run course records at the Marathon Eindhoven
The
words in the media guide of the Marathon Eindhoven should have acted
as a warning as they described the Kenyan winner Jafred Chirchir
Kipchumba as, “very talented but he has never found a very fast
course.”
words in the media guide of the Marathon Eindhoven should have acted
as a warning as they described the Kenyan winner Jafred Chirchir
Kipchumba as, “very talented but he has never found a very fast
course.”
On
Sunday, he found the roads around the Dutch city very much to his
liking as and he proceeded to smash the course record and his
personal best with an outstanding run of 2:05:48, which included a second half split of 1:02:35.
Sunday, he found the roads around the Dutch city very much to his
liking as and he proceeded to smash the course record and his
personal best with an outstanding run of 2:05:48, which included a second half split of 1:02:35.
Prior
to the Chicago marathon later on Sunday but including the results
from the Boston Marathon, which have to be disregarded for record
purposes as it is a downhill course, Kipchumba produced the 10th
fastest time in the world this year.
to the Chicago marathon later on Sunday but including the results
from the Boston Marathon, which have to be disregarded for record
purposes as it is a downhill course, Kipchumba produced the 10th
fastest time in the world this year.
His
victorious effort also made Eindhoven one of only five marathons in
the world this year to have a winning time below two hours and six
minutes.
victorious effort also made Eindhoven one of only five marathons in
the world this year to have a winning time below two hours and six
minutes.
A
fast time was on the cards from the opening kilometres and 17 men,
including the five designated pacemakers, went through 15km in 45:16
and then hit the the halfway point in 63:13.
fast time was on the cards from the opening kilometres and 17 men,
including the five designated pacemakers, went through 15km in 45:16
and then hit the the halfway point in 63:13.
As
the leading runners started out on the second circuit around the
Dutch city, the pace gradually quickened. With several of the pacemakers
dropping out and a few of the expected protagonists struggling to
keep up with the furious tempo, eight men remained in contention at
25km, which was passed in 1:14:29.
the leading runners started out on the second circuit around the
Dutch city, the pace gradually quickened. With several of the pacemakers
dropping out and a few of the expected protagonists struggling to
keep up with the furious tempo, eight men remained in contention at
25km, which was passed in 1:14:29.
The
leading group – which consisted of the Kenyan quartet of Chirchir
Kipchumba,, Mike Kipyego, Julius Arile and Nathaniel Kipkosgei and
Ethiopia’s pre-race favourite Tadesse Tola.- was down to five when
30km was reached in 1:28.59
leading group – which consisted of the Kenyan quartet of Chirchir
Kipchumba,, Mike Kipyego, Julius Arile and Nathaniel Kipkosgei and
Ethiopia’s pre-race favourite Tadesse Tola.- was down to five when
30km was reached in 1:28.59
Kipchumba
and Kipkosgei, who was brought to Eindhoven as a pacemaker, started
to push hard at 33km and pulled away from theri rivals, going through 35km in
1:43.58 with Tola four seconds adrift.
and Kipkosgei, who was brought to Eindhoven as a pacemaker, started
to push hard at 33km and pulled away from theri rivals, going through 35km in
1:43.58 with Tola four seconds adrift.
The
pair continued to put more daylight between themselves and Tola
before Kipchumba pushed again at 37km to leave his compatriot behind.
pair continued to put more daylight between themselves and Tola
before Kipchumba pushed again at 37km to leave his compatriot behind.
At
40km, Kipchumba had a 15 second advantage over Kipkosgei and extended
it to 40 second by the line.
40km, Kipchumba had a 15 second advantage over Kipkosgei and extended
it to 40 second by the line.
“I
train with (the 2011 Boston Marathon winner and the fastest marathon
man in the world) Geoffrey Mutai who won here in 2008 and 2009. He
told me what a nice course it was in Eindhoven, how fast and flat it was.”
train with (the 2011 Boston Marathon winner and the fastest marathon
man in the world) Geoffrey Mutai who won here in 2008 and 2009. He
told me what a nice course it was in Eindhoven, how fast and flat it was.”
“However,
Mutai has been very strong in training so I thought I was only
thinking about running 2:07. I was not confident I was going to run
faster,” said the 28-year-old, who was enjoying the greatest day in
his running career.
Mutai has been very strong in training so I thought I was only
thinking about running 2:07. I was not confident I was going to run
faster,” said the 28-year-old, who was enjoying the greatest day in
his running career.
Kipkosgei
finished second in 2:06:28, one of the fastest debuts in the history
of the marathon.
finished second in 2:06:28, one of the fastest debuts in the history
of the marathon.
“Kipkosgei
was a pacemaker but yesterday (Saturday) he came to us and said that
he would like to finish the race. We said to that we didn’t mind what
he did but he had to pace the race to 34km, which was our agreement,”
said Marathon Eindhoven race director Peer Pulles.
was a pacemaker but yesterday (Saturday) he came to us and said that
he would like to finish the race. We said to that we didn’t mind what
he did but he had to pace the race to 34km, which was our agreement,”
said Marathon Eindhoven race director Peer Pulles.
“In
the end, I think it worked out well because Kipchumba had someone
with him until 37km,” added Pulles, with the winner sitting beside
him at the post-race press conference nodding in agreement.
the end, I think it worked out well because Kipchumba had someone
with him until 37km,” added Pulles, with the winner sitting beside
him at the post-race press conference nodding in agreement.
Kipyego,
the 2002 World Junior Championships 3000m steeplechase gold
medallist, overtook Tola for third place about 5km from home and crossed the line with a huge personal best of
2:06:48.
the 2002 World Junior Championships 3000m steeplechase gold
medallist, overtook Tola for third place about 5km from home and crossed the line with a huge personal best of
2:06:48.
Georgina
Rono made it a double Kenyan triumph in Eindhoven after she covered
the last 10km on her own before crossing the line in a course record
of 2:24.33. It also took more than six minutes off her personal best,
set when she finished third at the Carpi Marathon last year.
Rono made it a double Kenyan triumph in Eindhoven after she covered
the last 10km on her own before crossing the line in a course record
of 2:24.33. It also took more than six minutes off her personal best,
set when she finished third at the Carpi Marathon last year.
“I
relaxed in my mid at 38km because I knew I was going to finish in the
top three but I only felt certain of victory in the last two
kilometres,” reflected Rono after the race
relaxed in my mid at 38km because I knew I was going to finish in the
top three but I only felt certain of victory in the last two
kilometres,” reflected Rono after the race
Ethiopia’s
Shitaye Bedaso finished second in a personal best of 2:25.09 while
the local Dutch hero and pre-race favourite Hilda Kibet struggled in
the final kilometres after being part of the leading group until 32km
and finished fifth in 2:26:36.
Shitaye Bedaso finished second in a personal best of 2:25.09 while
the local Dutch hero and pre-race favourite Hilda Kibet struggled in
the final kilometres after being part of the leading group until 32km
and finished fifth in 2:26:36.
For
more information about the Marathon Eindhoven (in Dutch and English)
the website of the event is: http://www.marathoneindhoven.nl/
more information about the Marathon Eindhoven (in Dutch and English)
the website of the event is: http://www.marathoneindhoven.
ends
