FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEVTIC HOBBLES HOME FIRST
Olivera Jevtic did not disappoint her 'home' fans, when she won the 20th
Belgrade Banca Intesa Marathon, in 2.35.46 on Saturday morning, but she did
herself no favours, for she ran over half the race with an obvious ankle
injury, and hobbled through the finish line.
The Serbian European silver medallist took the lead in the women's race
right from the start, and was going well through the first 10 kilometres,
at a pace which would have bought her home in around 2.30. But the injury
started to show, and she slowed to accommodate it. But she was never
threatened by her Russian opponents, Oxana Kuzmincheva, who finished second
in 2.37.41, and Yelena Kozhevnikova, who was third in 2.38.14.
Jevtic, who is the only Serbian athlete already selected for the Beijing
Olympics in a year's time, said, "I had a pain in my left leg for the last
15 days, it was caused by the change in climate. I've been training in
Kenya, and when I returned to Serbia, it was colder, and that brought it
on. I had pain all the time, from the very start. I thought about dropping
out, but I just could not, because of the wonderful support I was a
getting, the fans were with me all the way".
Jevtic, who began her career in the half-marathon at this event in 1993,
will go to Italy for treatment, in the hope of readying herself to compete
in the IAAF World Championships in Osaka at the end of August.
The battle of the celebrity coaches was won in a pesonal best of 2.11.53,
by John Maluni of Kenya on behalf of Cosmas Ndeti, the three-time Boston
Marathon winner. Maluni had a race-long struggle with colleague, Nicholas
Chelimo, who is coached by world record holder, Paul Tergat. Maluni only
got away in the last 100 metres, to win by three seconds, and he crossed
the finish line into the embrace of Ndeti, who coaches him in their home
province of Machakos. Chelimo also posted a personal best, with 2.11.56 in
second place.
Maluni said, "At 35k, I felt strong, and that's when I thought I could win.
I went clear of Nicholas with 200m remaining. The weather was perfect
(16C), and my ambition now that I've won my first marathon is to keep
winning". Chelimo said, "I felt strong, but not strong enough, I need to
add more training".
The finish tape was held by world record long jumpers, Bob Beamon and Mike
Powell, who were the marathon guests, and held seminars for young athletes
during the days before the marathon. (ends)
further info: +44 7900 243460
RESULTS
Place/number name / country time / prize (euros)
MEN
1 8 John MALUNI KEN 2.11.53 9000
2 7 Nicholas CHELIMO KEN 2.11.56 8000
3 9 John KIOKO KEN 2.13.30 4000
4 1 Andrew SAMBU TAN 2.14.52 2000
5 18 Andrew SILVINI TAN 2.14.56 2000
6 13 Wilson CHEPKWONY KEN 2.14.59 1000
7 184 Sowa ARKADIUSZ POL 2.15.09 1000
8 16 John CHERUTICH KEN 2.17.23 1000
9 183 Adam DRACZYNSKI POL 2.17.24
10 15 Nickson RUGUT KEN 2.19.54
WOMEN
1 251 Olivera JEVTIC SRB 2.35.46 5000
2 260 Oxana KUZMINCHEVA RUS 2.37.41 4000
3 254 Yelena KOZHEVNIKOVA RUS 2.38.14 3000
4 253 Karina PEREZ DELGAO MEX 2.40.36 2000
5 256 Lene Katrin DUUS DEN 2.48.08 2000
6 255 Venera SAMSONOVA RUS 2.50.25 2000
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