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There was a historical performance in the women’s race and a surprise in the men’s race at the 109th
edition of the Boston Marathon. The race was traditionally
started on Monday in Hopkinton and ended in the centre of Boston.
The Kenyan Catherine Ndereba became the first woman to win the BAA
Boston Marathon for the fourth time. The Olympic marathon silver
medallist clocked 2:25:13 hours and was, as the year before, first in
front of Elfenesh Alemu (Ethiopia/2:27:03). Bruna Genovese (Italy) was
third in 2:29:51.
In the men’s race Hailu Negussie stopped the Kenyan win streak. Three
times in a row the Kenyans had won in Boston and during the last 14 BAA
Boston Marathons the winners came from Kenya 13 times. This time Hailu
Negussie won in 2:11:45 and earned as well as Catherine Ndereba 100,000
Dollars for the victory. In a slow race Wilson Onsare (Kenya) was
second in 2:12:21 while Benson Cherono (Kenya) was third in 2:12:48.
The BAA Boston Marathon had 20,405 entries and 17,549 runners crossed
the finish line. Three time Boston winner Uta Pippig started the
women’s race. She had been the first woman to reach a triple triumph in
a row in Boston. Then it was Fatuma Roba (Ethiopia) who managed this as
well. Catherine Ndereba didn’t make it three times in a row but the
victories in 2000 and 2001 as well as 2004 and 2005 made her the first
woman to win four times in Boston. “I feel great and I thank god for
being able to write sports history”, said Catherine Ndereba.
After the first half the Kenyan had been well behind. Elfenesh Alemu
and Romanian Nuta Olaru were leading the race. After 1:12:11 hours they
reached the half marathon point, while Ndereba was only in fourth
position (1:13:31). “At the beginning I had the feeling that my legs
were heavy. So I tried to run relaxed at first”, explained Catherine
Ndereba.
While Alemu got away from Olaru at 25 k, Catherine Ndereba slowly found
her way back into the race. And she was getting closer. At the dreaded
Heartbreak Hill Ndereba caught up with Alemu. Shortly after that she
left Alemu behind. As last year the Ethiopian finished runner-up. “I
was going faster now and I felt much better”, Catherine Ndereba
explained.
In the men’s race two runners took the lead early. Stephen Kiogora
(Kenya) und Khalid El Boumlili (Morocco) reached half way in 66:11
minutes. They had an advantage of 31 seconds. But a few kilometres
later they were caught by the chasing group. Besides Kiogora and
Negussie there were four more Kenyans: Robert Cheruiyot, Wilson Onsare, Benson Cherono and
Timothy Cherigat. Defending champion Cherigat belongs to the
newly founded KIMbia Athletics group and is coached by Dieter Hogen.
After 20 miles Hailu Negussie suddenly forced the pace. At first only
Robert Cheruiyot could keep up with him. But he was to fall back soon
after. That was the decisive moment. “The Boston Marathon is seen as
the greatest marathon. So I am very proud to have won this race”, Hailu
Negussie explained.
Results, Men:
1. Hailu Negussie ETH 2:11:45
2. Wilson Onsare KEN 2:12:21
3. Benson Cherono KEN 2:12:48
4. Alan Culpepper USA 2:13:39
5. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN 2:14:30
6. Timothy Cherigat KEN 2:15:19
7. Benjamin Kipchumba KEN 2:15:26
8. Andrew Letherby AUS 2:16:38
Women:
1. Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:25:13
2. Elfenesh
Alemu
ETH 2:27:03
3. Bruna
Genovese
ITA 2:29:51
4. Svetlana Zakharova RUS 2:31:34
5. Madina Biktagirova RUS 2:32:41
6. Lyubov Morgunova RUS 2:33:24