Chicago Marathon - Wanjiru Runs Fastest U.S.-Soil Marathon Ever

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Chicago Marathon

Wanjiru Runs Fastest U.S.-Soil Marathon Ever

Posted Monday, 12 October, 2009

At the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, Beijing Olympic Marathon gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya made a triumphant U.S. debut with the victory in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 41 seconds. His time was not only a course record, but also a U.S. All-Comers record, besting Khalid Khannouchi's 2:05:42 from 1999 at this race. For the women, Liliya Shobukhova of Russia also had a solid win in 2:25:56.

At the 32nd edition, under cool, windy conditions and nearly 35,000 following, Wanjiru, 22, who had pacesetters, pulled away from any challengers in the latter stages to win his second major marathon this year (also Flora London). He earned $175,000 ($75,000 for first place and a $100,000 bonus for the course record - one second slower and the time bonus would have been $75,000).

Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco was runner-up in 2:06:04 and Vincent Kipruto of Kenya was third (2:06:08). Top American was Sergio Reyes of Palmdale, Calif. in 8th place (2:15:30, a personal record).

In her second marathon, Shobukhova, 21, beat Irina Mikitenko of Germany and countrywoman and defending race champion Lidiya Grigoryeva who ran 2:26:31 and 2:26:47 respectively. With her earlier wins at London and Berlin, Mikitenko did wrap-up another World Marathon Majors title.

2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist and 2005 race champion Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. finished sixth in 2:28:50.

32nd Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Chicago, IL, Sunday, October 11, 2009

MEN
1) Sammy Wanjiru (KEN), 2:05:41*, $175,000
2) Abderrahim Goumri (MAR), 2:06:04, $90,000
3) Vincent Kipruto (KEN), 2:06:08, $65,000
4) Charles Munyeki (KEN), 2:07:06, $30,000
5) Richard Limo (KEN), 2:08:43, $10,000
6) Wesley Korir (KEN), 2:10:38
7) Isaac Macharia (KEN), 2:11:09
8) Sergio Reyes (USA / CA), 2:15:30, $12,500
9) Tedese Tola (ETH), 2:15:48
10) Pat Rizzo (USA / MI), 2:15:48, $10,500
11) Ben Maiyo (KEN), 2:16:38
12) Mike McKeeman (USA / CA), 2:17:42, $9000
13) Drew Shackleton (USA / CA), 2:17:56, $7500
14) Kyle Shackleton (USA / CA), 2:18:00, $5500
15) Jeff Jonaitis (USA / IL), 2:18:02, $4000
16) John Lucas (USA / OR), 2:18:53, $2500
17) Aleksandar Tomas (SRB), 2:18:58
18) Morten Bostrom (FIN), 2:19:12
19) Bret Schoolmeester (USA / CO), 2:19:16, $2500
20) Matt Bartlebaugh (USA / MI), 2:19:22, $2500
*U.S. All-Comers record and course record (previous record, 2:05:42, Khalid Khannouchi (MAR), Chicago 1999)

WOMEN
1) Liliya Shobukhova (RUS), 2:25:56, $75,000
2) Irina Mikitenko (GER), 2:26:31, $50,000
3) Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS), 2:26:47, $25,000
4) Teyba Erkesso (ETH), 2:26:56, $15,000
5) Berhane Adere (ETH), 2:28:38, $10,000
6) Deena Kastor (USA / CA), 2:28:50, $12,500
7) Mizuho Nasukawa (JPN), 2:29:22
8) Melissa White (USA / MI), 2:32:55, $10,500
9) Tera Moody (USA / CO), 2:32:59, $9000
10) Adriana Pirtea (ROU), 2:34:07
Other U.S.
12) Carol Jefferson (USA / MI), 2:41:15, $5000
13) Amanda Trotter (USA / VA), 2:42:44, $3000
14) Katy Trotter (USA / CA), 2:43:05

Results and more at: www.chicagomarathon.com

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400Min/Chicago_Marathon/press_center/index.aspx?id=10801

Race Day Recap - Sunday, October 11, 2009

WANJIRU BREAKS NORTH AMERICAN AND COURSE RECORD

AT THE 32ND RUNNING OF THE BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON

CHICAGO (October 11, 2009) - The 32^nd running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon today witnessed 34,792 participants at the start and 33,419 official finishers, a men’s course record, a new female champion, a three-time wheelchair champion and a sprint finish in the women’s wheelchair competition.

With a chilly start line temperature of 33°F and calm, 4 mph winds coming out of the northwest, the men’s and women’s elite fields took off in drastically different fashion. The men shot out of the start on world record pace with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru (KEN) following closely behind four pacers. Hanging off Wanjiru’s shoulder until shortly after the 35K were fellow countrymen Vincent Kipruto (KEN) and Charles Munyeki (KEN). Just as Wanjiru picked up his cadence, Kipruto and Munyeki were chased down by Morocco’s Abderrahim Goumri. Goumri held on to finish second and outkick Kipruto, 2:06:04 to 2:06:08, respectively.

The storyline of the day, however, belonged to 22 year-old Wanjiru. Rounding the final turn onto Columbus Drive, Wanjiru eclipsed Khalid Khannouchi’s 1999 course record of 2:05:42 by one second to finish officially in 2:05:41. Wanjiru claimed the $75,000 prize purse for overall winner and took home an additional $100,000 for breaking the course record. Wanjiru’s time is the fastest time recorded on American soil. At the age of 22 years 335 days, Wanjiru is the youngest runner with three World Marathon Major victories.

Unlike the blistering pace of the men’s race, the women’s race went out at a much slower pace with the women’s field content to follow American Tera Moody through the first 10K. On a day ripe for the record books, the women’s field ran well off Paula Radcliffe’s 2002 course record of 2:17:18; it took Teyba Erkesso’s (ETH) bold move shortly before the half to wake up the women’s field. After Erkesso charged to the front, the women’s pace dropped to sub 2:30.

While Erkesso demanded a race from the field, it was Russian Liliya Shobukhova, running in just her second marathon, who took home first place. Shobukhova finished in 2:25:56, with Germany’s Irina Mikitenko second in 2:26:31 and 2008 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) third in 2:26:47. Erkesso hung on for fourth while American record holder, Deena Kastor, finished sixth in 2:28:50.

The men’s wheelchair competition welcomed Australia’s Kurt Fearnley back to the podium for the third time. Fearnley finished a little over a minute outside of his course record in 1:29:09. On the women’s side, newcomer Tatyana McFadden (USA) beat two-time champ Amanda McGrory (USA) in one of the closet wheelchair finishes in Chicago Marathon history. The top five women finished within three seconds of each other, with McFadden capturing the victory in 1:50:47.

In the debut Nike Northside/Southside Challenge, a high school invitational held on the final 2.6 miles of the marathon race course, Lincoln Way Central runner Kyle Counter beat a field of 71 competitors to finish 52 seconds ahead of second place in 13:35. The women’s champion from Luther North, Stephanie Simpson, won in 16:01, 19 seconds ahead of second place. Fifty seven high school girls competed in today’s race.

Top 10 Men and Women (PDF)

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In its 32^nd year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 runners including a world class elite field and 1.5 million spectators. As a result of its national and international draw, the iconic race assists in raising $10 million for a variety of charitable causes while generating an estimated $143 million economic impact to its host city. More information on the race is available at the event Web site, chicagomarathon.com.

Kenya's Wanjiru wins men's Olympic marathon

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/08/23/olympics-athletics-marathon.html

Kenya's Wanjiru

wins men's Olympic marathon

Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru breaks the tape in Sunday's men's marathon at Beijing.
(Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press)

With a smile on his face and enough strength in his legs to sprint to the finish, Sammy Wanjiru won Kenya's first gold medal in the men's Olympic marathon in record time.

Wanjiru, 21, set a searing pace in the final athletic competition at the Beijing Games, obliterating the Olympic record with a time of two hours 6.32 minutes on Sunday morning.

The previous record of 2:09.21, owned by Portugal's Carlos Lopes, had stood since 1984.

"It feels good to make history here," said Wanjiru, who informed officials afterward that his name was misspelled as 'Wansiru' on the official results sheet.

"It feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold." Wanjiru pulled away from Moroccan contender Jaouad Gharib with 15 minutes remaining, and entered the National Stadium unchallenged and to a standing ovation.

The jubiliant Kenyan raised his arms in triumph, and, with the crowd cheering him on, proceeded to sprint around the track and break the tape in record time.

"I had to push the pace to tire the other runners," Wanjiru said. "I had to push the pace because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down."

It was just the third full marathon run by Wanjiru, the world half-marathon champion, and the first Olympic gold in the event for Kenya — a nation defined in the sports world by its excellence in distance running.

"In Kenya, we have many medals," he said. "But I'm glad I have this one."

Gharib, a two-time world champion, took the silver medal in 2:07.16, and Tsegay Kebede streaked past a spent Deriba Merga, his elder Ethiopian teammate, with 200 metres left to claim the bronze in 2:10.00.

No Canadians competed in the event.

Defending champion Stefano Baldini of Italy placed 12th in 2:13.25, despite nursing a tender thigh that doctors ordered him to rest for three days just prior to the Games.

"In the last 10 kilometres, it was unbelievable what the Africans were able to do under these conditions," Baldini said.

Pleasant conditions at outset

Runners were treated to pleasant, less humid conditions and a soft breeze at the outset, but the temperature rose from 21 C to 30 C by the time it concluded.

Most importantly, Beijing's notorious air quality was surprisingly good, leaving observers to wonder whether world record holder Haile Gebrselassie should have competed after all.

Gebrselassie, who set the world mark of 2:04:26 last September in Berlin, competed in the 10,000 metres at Beijing, but the legendary Ethiopian withdrew from the marathon because he feared the city's poor air quality would harm his health over the long haul.

Ninety-eight runners lineup at Tiananmen Square for the start of the race, which meandered through the streets of Beijing, past the fabled Forbidden City and historic Temple of Heaven before looping back to the square and through the city's financial district toward the stadium.

The 42-kilometre route was exposed but relatively flat, with a gradual incline of four kilometres over the first half and a gentle downward slope the rest of the way.

As the marathoners competed outside the Bird's Nest, the performers inside rehearsed for the closing ceremonies (CBC, 6 a.m. ET), much to the delight of fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the marathoners.

Martin Lel of Kenya set a brisk pace over the initial 15 kilometres of the marathon, covering the distance in 44:36.

Lel posted the swiftest time this season in winning the London Marathon in 2:05.15.

Reigning world champion Luke Kibet, Martin's teammate and a late replacement for injured Robert Cheruiyot, stuck with the chase group before being forced off the course with stomach cramps at 1:25.46.

Lel began to wilt by the halfway mark and relinquished the lead to Wanjiru and Merga, who ran side-by-side with Gharib trailing by 0.04 seconds.

Wanjiru pulled ahead of Merga by two strides at the 1:45.00 mark, with Gharib trailing by 0.01 and Eritrea's Yonas Kifle lurking just 1.28 back.