FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pre-race Favourites Take Titles at the
9th Edition of the Monaco and Riviera Marathon
The pre-race favourites John Kirui of Kenya and Alina Tecuta Gherasim of
Romania took the men's and women's titles respectively at the 9th edition
of the Monaco and Riviera Marathon today.
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Paula Radcliffe to signal the start
Following thunderstorms and heavy overnight rain, the tiny Mediterranean
Principality woke up to cool temperatures and sporadically sunny skies,
which presented comfortable conditions for marathon running. However, after
reaching the Italian town of Vintimille, the runners had to cope with a
slight wind in their faces for most of the final 25km or so, as the race
snaked back along the coast for its finish at the Stade Louis II in
Monaco's Fontvieille port district.
The Marathon which attracted 2000 entrants (another 1300 runners took part
in the 10km which began 45 mins later) was started at 9.30am from a balcony
at the IAAF Headquarters in Monaco by the principality's sovereign, HSH
Prince Albert II of Monaco, who had invited as his guest Britain's Paula
Radcliffe, the women's World Marathon champion and record holder to join
him for the occasion.
MEN - Kirui leads Kenyan 'one - two'
With the race taken out and led until late-on by Kenyan Mark Kibet
(eventually faded home in the last 10km, finishing 13th in 2:39:00), the
eventual winner Kirui remained for a long time at the head of a chasing
pack of 10 runners which was slowly whittled down in number, until by 35km,
Kirui only had compatriot John Ngeny for company. However, though this
tough hilly course usually makes a mockery of most form guides, the
27-year-old Kirui, who set his a personal best (2:13:29) when coming second
in this year's Madrid Marathon (24 April), made his quality tell over Ngeny
(2:15:09 PB - 2004) in the final kilometres. Kirui came home in 2:19:08,
over 40 seconds quicker than second placed Ngeny (2:19:52). Russian Andrey
Bryzgalov was well adrift in third (2:21:20).
Kirui's victory was much quicker than last year's 2:22 win by Ukraine's
Andrey Chernychov - who did not compete this year - but still way off the
2:11:26 race record (Kenneth Cheruiyot KEN) which has stood since 1999.
WOMEN - Gherasim's race all the way
The women's race was only about one athlete throughout. Alina Gherasim of
Romania, who celebrated her 34th birthday on Friday (10 Nov), was from
about 5km into the race leading a group which also comprised three Russian
women, Olga Bylinkina, Elena Kozhevnikova, who had sub-2:40 PBs to their
credit, and Ludmila Afoniouchkina (2:44 PB) - and a few accompanying male
runners. However, it wasn't long before the front running of Gherasim, who
has a personal best of 2:28:16 (2000) and numerous top international
performances to her credit, split the group apart, leaving each one of this
east European quartet to battle in separate solo efforts for the remainder
of the course. The Paris marathon winner of 1996, who is returning to the
sport after starting a family, crossed the finish in the Stade Louis II in
a time of 2:43:44. Second was Kozhevnikova in 2:47:08, while in third was
Afoniouchkina in 2:50:52.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
RESULTS
Marathon
Men
1. KIRUI John KEN 2:19:08
2. NGENY John KEN 2:19:52
3. BRYZGALOV Andrey RUS 2:21:20
Women
1. TECUTA GHERASIM Alina ROM 2:43:44
2. KOZHEVNIKOVA Elena RUS 2:47:08
3. AFONIOUCHKINA Ludmilla RUS 2:50:52
###
|
