Florence, Italy - Kenya's Benjamin Kiprotich (2:11:33) and Florence Barsosio (2:29:11) respectively won the men's and women's divisions of yesterday’s 21st Florence Marathon (Sunday 28 Nov).

Kiprotich also won his debut marathon in Padua, Italy, last April with a PB of 2:10:44, while for Barsosio her triumph marked a successful comeback to sub-2:30 racing following the birth of her first child in October 2002.

MEN - Training mates take first and second

The race started at a very fast pace. The ‘rabbit’ Abel Yakoot led the leading pack through 5km in 15:02, with the race later passing 10km in 30:16 and halfway in 1:04:34. At that point Mark Saina, the man in the field with the best PB (2:09:00 in Turin in 2000), was some metres behind, troubled by the fact that his right shoelace had come undone. In re-tying the lace he lost some ten seconds, but in a couple of kilometres was able to rejoin the leaders.

At 26km, one of the favourites Kenyan Richard Maiyo started fading. Just a month and a half ago in Carpi he started as a pacer but surprisingly ended up finishing second in a PB of 2:09:47.

After the pacemaker Yakoot dropped out at 30km (1:33:12), Kiprotich, Saina and David Kipkorir were the three contenders whoi remained in the lead.

Saina attempted to make a decisive move at 39km, and Kiprotich went with him, and in the last kilometre managed to drop Saina and crossed the line for the win, some 10 seconds ahead.

Kipkorir finished in 3rd with a new PB of 2:12:34. Earlier this year Kipkorir had won marathons in Naples and Lausanne (just 5 weeks ago with his PB 2:13:38).

"Next year Boston"

"This year I have raced mostly in Italy, but in 2005 I would like to run the historic Boston Marathon," confirmed the winner Kiprotich "Today it was a very tough race, but kilometre after kilometre I felt more and more confident. I'm happy that Mark (Saina) and I got first and second place."

Kiprotich and Saina train together in Kaptagat in a group coached by Amos Korir which also includes 2003 Milan Marathon winner John Birgen.

WOMEN - An even paced solo run for Barsosio

In 2000 and 2001 Kenyan Florence Barsosio had two wonderful seasons. She won the 2000 Turin Marathon (2:27:58), was 5th at New York City Marathon (2:27:00, still her PB), won 2001 Paris Half (1:11:22) and full marathons (2:27:53), and finished in 6th at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton (2:28:36). Then she got married and had a child.

Earlier this year she came back to run at international level and won the Madrid marathon in 2:34:10, a time she improved on 5 weeks ago in Dublin, where she took 2nd place (2:33:58).

Barsosio’s winning time of 2:29:11 yesterday was something of a surprise for her. She ran unopposed and apart from the beginning downhill part, ran a very even race. Her split were: 17:12 (5km), 35:13 (10km), 53:00 (15km), 1:14:40 (half marathon), 1:28:38 (25km), 1:46:07 (30km), 2:03:46 (35km).

"I'm very happy with the win and the time," she said. "I tried to set a good pace from the beginning and I was able to keep it to the finish. I'm sure that next year I will come back to run even faster, like I used to run before my pregnancy."

Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF

Selected Results
Men
1. Benjamin Korir Kiprotich (KEN)  2:11:33
2. Mark Saina (KEN)  2:11:43
3. David Kipkorir (KEN)  2:12:34
4. Philemon Kipkering (KEN)  2:14:38
5. Tesfaye Eticha (ETH)  2:17:01
6. Giovanni Ruggiero (ITA)  2:17:25
7. Aloys Nizigama (KEN)  2:18:49

Women
1. Florence Barsosio (KEN)  2:29:11
2. Marcella Mancini (ITA)  2:34:40
3. Dana Janeckova (SVK)  2:47:42
4. Lidija Rajcic (CRO)  2:48:57
5. Fiona Oakes (GBR)  2:50:14