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Abdirahman becomes 5th U.S. man under 2:09:00
From Marianne Caponi
CHICAGO - (October 22, 2006) - Robert K. Cheruiyot of Kenya outsprinted countryman Daniel Njenga on Sunday to win an exciting LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 35 seconds.
In the women's fast race, Berhane Adere of Ethiopia stayed back and attacked late to win in 2:20:42. Russian Galina Bogomolova was second in 2:20:47 and Benita Johnson of Australia moved up to third in 2:22:36.
The race - with 34,698 official starters - was run on a blustery day with light rain, strong winds from the west and temperatures in the low 40s F. As Cheruiyot was finishing, he slipped and fell backwards, hitting his head on the ground. The two-time winner of the Boston Marathon and new leader of the World Marathon Majors series was evaluated on site and taken to a local hospital for precautionary purposes where he will be held overnight for observation.
Njenga, who with Cheruiyot, broke away from Jimmy Muindi of Kenya with less than two miles to go, finished in 2:07:40. It was the third time in five tries at Chicago that he placed runner-up; he finished third the other two times. Muindi hung on for third in 2:07:51, while American and two-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson, Ariz. had a major breakthrough to take fourth place in a personal record 2:08:56, the fifth U.S. male under 2:09. Kenyan Robert Cheboror tried to stay with the lead pack, but faded after 20 miles and finished fifth in 2:09:25. American Brian Sell of Rochester Hills, Mich. was sixth in 2:10:47, also a PR.
In the women's race, Adere and Bogomolova passed early leader Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania who faded to fifth after running a sub-2:17 course record pace for 16 miles. She had led the race by two minutes, 12 seconds before slowing down. Bogomolova and Adere passed Tomescu-Dita just past the 24 mile mark. The pair ran with each other until Adere stepped up the pace at 25.5 miles. Bogomolova tried to close the gap and did briefly on the incline just before the final turn.
Madai Perez of Mexico moved up with Johnson and grabbed fourth place in 2:22:59. The top four women also set respective national records. 2004 Chicago champion Tomescu-Dita placed fifth in 2:24:25, while countrywoman Nuta Olaru finished sixth in 2:25:37. Two-time Olympian Elva Dryer from Gunnison, Colo. was the first U.S. woman in 2:31:48 (her debut), 12th overall.
With their wins, Cheruiyot and Adere vaulted into the World Marathon Majors Series lead. The next WMM race is the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5. For current standings, visit: WorldMarathonMajors.com
29th LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon - Chicago, IL, Sunday, October 22, 2006
MEN
1) Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, KEN, 2:07:35, $140,000
2) Daniel Njenga, KEN, 2:07:40, $80,000
3) Jimmy Muindi, KEN, 2:07:51, $55,000
4) Abdi Abdirahman, USA / AZ, 2:08:56, $42,000
5) Robert Cheboror, KEN, 2:09:25, $22,500
6) Brian Sell, USA / MI, 2:10:47, $11,500
7) Japhet Kosgei, KEN, 2:11:37, $3500
8) Ben Maiyo, KEN, 2:11:53, $3500
9) Dejene Berhanu, ETH, 2:12:27
10) Meshack Kosgei Kirwa, KEN, 2:12:31
WOMEN
1) Berhane Adere, ETH, 2:20:42, $170,000
2) Galina Bogomolova, RUS, 2:20:47, $110,000
3) Benita Johnson, AUS, 2:22:36, $55,000
4) Madai Perez, MEX, 2:22:59, $40,000
5) Constantina Tomescu-Dita, ROM, 2:24:25, $25,000
6) Nuta Olaru, ROM, 2:25:37, $7500
7) Hiromi Ominami, JPN, 2:26:04, $5500
8) Ludmila Petrova, RUS, 2:27:08, $3500
9) Kathy Butler, GBR, 2:28:39
10) Dulce Maria Rodriguez, MEX, 2:28:54
Top U.S.
12) Elva Dryer, USA / CO, 2:31:48, $7000
13) Colleen De Reuck, 42, USA / CO, 2:33:18, $8500 (also first master)
For complete results, go to: ChicagoMarathon.com.
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