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From David Monti
© 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com
FALMOUTH, Mass. (12-Aug) -- It was something old and something new at today's 35th edition of the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race held in hot and humid conditions under sunny skies.
Catherine Ndereba, 35, the reigning Olympic Marathon silver medalist, made her seventh appearance at this twisting, coastal, 7 mile race, and picked-up her fourth victory. It was her first win here since 1999, and her victory here came only one week after her second place finish at the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE.
"It was a good tune-up, a very good tune-up," said Ndereba who will run the marathon at the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Athletics. "I always do this race before a major championships.
Ndereba broke the tape in 36:31, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Luminita Talpos of Romania, who has had a very strong summer road racing season. Finishing a solid third was American Kate O'Neill who grew up in nearby Milton, Mass. She ran 36:52.
"This is a good result," said O'Neill who ran for Yale University. "I'm happy."
On the men's side, last year's #1-ranked runner at 10,000m, Micah Kogo, 21, of Eldoret, Kenya, made a strong move on Olympic Marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi with less than one mile to go and scooted to his first victory here in just his first Falmouth appearance, clocking 31:53. Keflezighi, 32, also making his first appearance here, finished second in 32:13. Kenyan Nelson Kiplagat got third in 32:21.
Kogo liked the course, especially the hills which reminded him of his native Kenya (he was born in Kaptagat). It was his first time racing Keflezighi. Kogo, who did not make the Kenyan team for the IAAf World Championships, said he planned to return to the track and would contest the 10,000m at the Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels in September where he will defend his title.
"I will need to train very hard for that," he said.
Both Ndereba and Kogo earned $10,000 for finishing first; Keflezighi also earned $10,000 ($5000 for second place plus $5000 for being the first American). O'Neill banked $7,000 ($2000 for third place plus $5000 for being the first American).
Top Results:
MEN -
1. Micah Kogo, KEN, 31:53
2. Meb Keflezighi, Mammoth Lakes, Ca, 32:13
3. Nelson Kiplagat, KEN, 32:21
4. Nicholas Kamakya, KEN, 32:33
5. William Chebon Chebor, KEN, 32:36
6. Tom Nyariki, KEN, 32:39
7. James Carney, Longmont, CO, 32:45
8. Karim El Mabchour, MAR, 32:58
9. John Itati, KEN, 33:01
10. Linus Maiyo, KEN, 33:12
WOMEN -
1. Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 36:31
2. Luminita Talpos, ROM, 36:40
3. Kate O'Neill, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 36:52
4. Natalya Berkut, UKR, 37:23
5. Alicia Shay*, Flagstaff, AZ, 37:28
6. Sara Slattery, Boulder, CO, 37:28
7. Angelina Mutuku, KEN, 37:39
8. Galina Aleksandrova, RUS, 38:04
9. Melissa Cook, Denton, TX, 38:14
10. Maryna Dubrova, UKR, 38:41
*Formerly "Alicia Craig"
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