More Speed

In the 2 major marathons this past Sunday, Paris and Rotterdam, Africans took 28 of the top 40 spots (top 10 for men and women in each race) -- 19 by Kenyans, 8 by Ethiopians, and 1 by a Moroccan. That's a pretty impressive day and speaks to the dominance of distance running by African runners.

Pretty impressive times, too -- 4 men under 2:06 and 10 men under 2:07. A 2:07 marathon is a pace of 4:50.84 minutes per mile! Gives us something to shoot for (yeah, right)! Running Without Limits speculated that these may have been the fastest marathons ever. Could be -- in the top 40 spots, there were 22 personal best times, including 6 debut marathons.

Paris Marathon, 5 April 2009

MEN (7 of top 10 from Kenya, 2 from Ethiopia, 1 from Morocco) -- 8 personal best times, including one debut marathon:

1. Vincent Kipruto Limo (KEN) 2:05:47 (PB)
2. Bado Worku (ETH) 2:06:15 (debut)
3. David Kemboi Kiyeng (KEN) 2:06:26 (PB)
4. Yemane Adhane (ETH) 2:06:30 (PB)
5. Rachid Kisri (MAR) 2:06:48 (PB)
6. David Mandago Kipkorir (KEN) 2:06:53 (PB)
7. Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir (KEN) 2:07:31 (PB)
8. Shadrack Kipchumba Kiplagat (KEN) 2:08:11
9. John Kipkorir Komen (KEN) 2:08:12
10. Daniel Too Kiprugut (KEN) 2:08:38 (PB)

WOMEN (5 of to 10 from Ethiopia, 2 from Kenya) -- 6 personal best times, including 3 debut marathons:

1. Atsede Bayisa (ETH) 2:24:42(PB)
2. Aselefech Mergia (ETH) 2:25:02 (debut)
3. Christelle Dauney (FRA) 2:25:43 (NR)
4. Ashu Kasim (ETH) 2:25:49 (debut)
5. Julia Mombi Muraga (KEN) 2:29:10
6. Worknesh Tola (ETH) 2:29:19
7. Leah Malot (KEN) 2:30:29 (PB)
8. Maria McCambridge (IRL) 2:35:29 (PB)
9. Azalech Masresha (ETH) 2:35:56 (debut)
10. Maja Neuenschwander (SUI) 2:36:48 (PB)

Rotterdam Marathon, 5 April 2009

MEN (9 of top 10 from Kenya, 1 from Ethiopia) -- 7 personal best times, including 2 debut marathons; 3 runners beat the previous course record:

1. Duncan Kibet, Ken 2:04:27 PB, course record old 2.05.49 William Kipsang 2008)
2. James Kwambai, Ken 2:04:27 PB (correct)
3. Abel Kirui, Ken 2:05:04 PB
4. Patrick Makau, Ken 2:06:14 PB debut
5. Jackson Kipkoech, Ken 2:08:54
6. Alfred Kering, Ken 2:09:19 PB
7. Mesfin Ademasu, Eth 2:09:32 PB
8. Robert Kipcumba, Ken 2:09:54 PB debut
9. Richard Limo, Ken 2:10:09
10. Mariko Kipchumba, Ken 2:12:17

WOMEN (1 of the top 10 from Kenya) -- 1 personal best time:

1. Nailya Yulamanova, Rus 2:26:30 PB
2. Lydia Cheromei, Ken 2:28:09
3. Adriana Pirtea, Rou 2:36:36
4. Sue Harrison, GBr 2:37:27
5. Viktoria Ryazantseva, Rus 2:40:33
6. Luzia Schmid, Sui 2:52:14
7. Marta Esteban Poveda Esp 2:53:48
8. Minna Kainlauri, Fin 2:56:01
9. Katja Merlin, Bel 2:58:10
10. Birgit Kraemer, Ned 2:59:42

Run well, y'all,
Bob

This is Fast! (Updated)

Rotterdam Marathon -- and, no, this is not a 4-armed or 3-legged Kenyan! Kibet and Kwambai finished one-two and were recorded with the same finishing time. If I'm right about the names, two other Kenyans finished 3rd and 4th: Kirui at 2:05:04 (fastest 3rd place finish) and Makau at 2:06:14 (2nd fastest debut marathon). (Update: I was right. See the next post for details.)

Ryan Hall has his work cut out for him!

Run well, y'all (and remember that fast is relative),
Bob

Kenya's First Marathon Gold

Did you watch the Olympic men's marathon last night? What a race! I was 1/3 correct in my predictions -- I had said Kenyans would take 1st and 2nd and Hall would take 3rd. Kenya's Samuel Kamau Wanjiru took the gold in style, beating the previous Olympic record by a whopping 3 minutes.

Hall's 10th place finish was surprising and perplexing at first. But, on reflection, it's not that the Americans ran poorly -- Wanjiru and Kabede ran incredibly well. Given the weather (75-85° and 50%+ humidity), it seemed that nobody except the lead group expected a 2:06 finish. The commentators even said that Hall and his coach were shooting for a 2:09 and that the normal Olympic marathon was closer to 2:12.

One of the reasons that led me to think Hall would finish no higher than 3rd is his age and experience. I thought he needed a few more years and a few more marathons to hit his peak. Well, Wanjiru and Kebede blew that theory out of the water. Both are 21 years old and Wanjiru, at least, had only run 2 previous marathons.

Interesting Olympics with some no-brainer winners faltering -- Bernard Lagat, men's and women's 4X100 relay teams, Tyson Gay; some 'old guys' doing really well -- Dara Torres and Constantina Tomescu; Kenya, despite its dominance in distance running, taking its first ever gold in the marathon; and, of course, Michael Phelps' 8 golds, 7 world records (more impressive, I think, than even the 8 golds), and 1 Olympic record.

It sets up an interesting Olympics in 2012 in London. Speaking of 2012, if you're not a fan of NPR and/or didn't listen to All Things Considered on Friday, you missed a classic example of British self-deprecating humour (the spelling is a recognition of British spelling, not a typo). Go to this link, Imagining The 2012 London Games, and click on Listen Now for a light-hearted look ahead.

Run well, y'all,
Bob

Now We Know Why Kenyan Runners Are So Fast

Thanks to Pastor Karl of the Nashwauk Alliance Church in northern Minnesota and running blogger at The Faster Pastor for ferreting out why Kenyan runners are so fast.

Kip Lagat, a Kenyan marathoner [actually a middle distance runner --Bob--], explained why his country produces so many great marathoners with these words: It's the road signs: Beware of Lions.

Lagat apparently said this during the Sydney Olympics -- The Final Sprint. (The picture is from the NTN New York web page.)

Run well, y'all -- and watch out for felines on steroids,
Bob

Blast From the Past

World metric mile (1500 m) run, 14 July 1998 -- the battle between the Moroccan El Guerrouj and Kenyan (at the time) Bernard Lagat. Makes me wish I could run fast: