Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Chris Mbaisi
12 April 2011
KENYANS Wilson Chebet and Philes Ongori produced impressive runs to claim victories at the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday.
Running in sunny and humid conditions and in a two-way battle, Chebet broke away from compatriot Vincent Kipruto in the final stages to win with a fast 2:05:27 career best, the fastest time in the world this year. Ongori made her debut over the distance an auspicious one, clocking 2:24:20 to beat Dutch woman Hilda Kibet, who reached the finish in 2:24:27, also a personal best.
It seemed that the Rotterdam organisers had made a clever move by insuring a possible world record for US$350,000 (Sh29.5m), with the hopes for a new world mark in the men’s race living on until the 25th kilometre. The “Magnificent Seven”, as the first seven on the starting list -Kenyans Kipruto, Eliud Kiptanui, Chebet, Gilbert Kirwa and Ethiopians Feyisa Lilesa, Getu Feleke and Chele Dechasa-were referred to, went out very fast with six pace makers. The group passed the 5km marker in 14:38, three seconds shy of Haile Gebrselassie’s split in the world record he set in Berlin in 2008. Then the pace increased.
The group went through the first 10km in 29:09, four seconds faster than Gebrselassie. At 15km, they had won 14 seconds (43:49) on the world record splits. Although the group reached 20km in 58:40, still10 seconds ahead of record pace, it became clear that the pace was too high. By the midway point, the leaders had lost two seconds on their target with a 1:02:07 split.
At 25km, where the leaders passed in 1:13:42, just one second shy of the world record split, the pace slipped. At 30km (1:28:42) the leaders were Feleke, Chebet, Kipruto and Dechase with the pace makers Sammy Kitwara and Peter Kirui. In the next 5km, the Ethiopians Feleke and Dechase dropped back. The very strong looking Kitwara led Kipruto and Chebet in 1:43:44 through 35Km before ending his chores. Kipruto and Chebet now were on their own.
They passed 40km in 1:58:47. Chebet accelerated around 41km and immediately opened a gap before finishing on the Coolsingel in 2:05:27 ti become the fastest marathoner of 2011.
In the women’s race, Kibet led from the gun, running in a lead group of four with Ongori, Lishan Dulan (Bahrain), and Shetaye Bedasa to reach the 30km in 1:43:17. At this point, Dula and Bedasa could not follow and it became a two-woman affair. The debutante Ongori made her attack in the final kilometre and left Kibet trailing.
Men
1. Wilson Chebet (Ken) 2:05:27 PB
2. Vincent Kipruto (Ken) 2:05:33
3. Chele Dechasa (Eth) 2:08:47
4. Elius Kiptanui (Ken) 2:09:08
5. Alemayehu Shumye (Eth) 2:09:36
6. Michael Kipyego (Ken) 2:11:03
7. Feyisa Lilesa (Eth) 2:11:42
8. Koen Raymaekers (Ned) 2:13:41
9. Julius Mbugua (Ken) 2:14:11
10. Zemiro Zohar (Israel) 2:14:28 Pb
11. GiLbert Kirwa (Ken) 2:14:29
Women
1. Phils Ongori (Ken) 2:24:20
2. Hilda Kibet (Ned) 2:24:27 PB
3. Lishan Dula (Bhr) 2:26:56 PB
4. Alessandra Aguilar (Esp) 2:27:00 PB
5. Rita Jeptoo (Ken) 2:28:09
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