Sao Paulo, Brazil - The 81st edition of the most traditional road race of South America, the “Corrida de São Silvestre" (31 Dec) ended the 2005 season in strong fashion, and also providing new victories for Serbia and Montenegro’s Olivera Jevtic, and Brazilian Marílson Gomes dos Santos.
 
Ladies first – Second win for Jevtic
 
The female event began earlier, at 15:15 (local time). It was a very fast race from the gun, with Kenyan Rose Cheruiyot setting a strong pace, a fact that proved to be decisive towards the end of the race.
 
Jevtic, who had won this race in 1998, decided to sit and wait, since the rhythm, she said, “Was totally crazy, and there was no reason to follow it. My coach had told not to get into any of those sudden breaks, because this race is usually decided in the closing stages.”
 
Cheruiyot built an advantage of up to 100m, but the group in pursuit gradually began to close in on the Kenyan.
 
Jevtic made her decisive move after the 13th kilometre, at the hill of the “Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio”, and then had no problems holding the slim advantage she carried heading to the finish line.
 
In spite of training at very cold temperatures in Europe, the 28 year-old from Serbia and Montenegro managed her energies better than anyone else, perhaps using the strength gained from her Marathon training, in event which she produced a personal best of 2:25:23 (Rotterdam ’03), and also a sixth place at the Athens Olympic Games.
 
“I am very pleased with my victory. Now I will decide whether my next race will be in Uruguay, or in Sevilla”, Jevtic said.
 
Marílson takes second win as well
 
The pace in the early stages of the men’s race was set by Brazilian Erich Trapp, who worked as a rabbit.
 
At the hill of the “Elevado Costa e Silva”, between kilometers four and five, the lead group began to get smaller, and included both favorites, Brazilian Marílson Gomes dos Santos and Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot. It also featured two other Kenyans, Mathew Cheboi and David Chepkwony, and Brazilians Rômulo Wagner and Franck Caldeira de Almeida.
 
Almeida fell in the third kilometre, after tripping on a fellow athlete and continued running, but had to drop out by the 10th kilometre.
 
Meanwhile, the leaders continue to make their selection, and Gomes dos Santos opened his first gap at the beginning of the “Largo Paissandu”, after the 10th kilometre. There he began his solo effort that brought him to the finish line at the “Avenida Paulista”.
 
“I was expecting to win the race at the hill of ‘Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio,’ but I was fortunate to break Robert Cheruiyot earlier. Still, it was not an easy race. I knew Cheruiyot was strong, but I was happy to get ahead then,” said Gomes dos Santos.
 
“I had a good season”, added the 28 year-old from Brasília who represents the BM&F Club. “I could have done better at the World Championships, where I was 10th, but I am still pleased,” Gomes dos Santos added.
 
His triumph on Saturday was his second at São Silvestre, after his victory from 2003. Cheruiyot, who was second, won here in 2002 and 2004.
 
With his success, Gomes dos Santos has now joined fellow countrymen Sebastião Monteiro and José João da Silva, who were the only Brazilian runners to obtain double victories. Monteiro did it in 1945 and 1946, while da Silva did in 1980 and 1985.
 
Kenyan Paul Tergat is the man with the most victories with five: 1995, ‘96, ‘98, ‘99 and 2000.

On a hot summer afternoon (32º C) 15,000 people took part in the 15 kilometre race, a loop around the central district of São Paulo, with start and finish at 816m of elevation, and a lowest point of 720m of altitude at the 11th Km.
 
Leading Results:

Men -
1 - Marílson Gomes dos Santos (BRA) - 44:21
2 - Robert Cheruiyot (KEN) - 45:17
3 - Patrick Ivuti (KEN) - 45:30
4 - Rômulo Wagner da Silva (BRA) - 45:32
5 - Nigusse Ketema (ETH) - 45:36
6 - Mathew Cheboi (KEN) - 45:53
7 - Alan Wendell Bonfim Silva (BRA) - 46:01
8 - Elenílson da Silva (BRA): 46:09
9 - Elijah Kipkemboi Yator (KEN) - 46:13
10 - John Kiprotich Chemisto (KEN) - 47:06

Women -
1 - Olivera Jevtic (SCG) – 51:38
2 - Rose Cheruiyot (KEN) – 51:47
3 - Bizunesh Bekele (ETH) – 52:02
4 - Lucélia de Oliveira Peres (BRA) – 52:10
5 - Bertha Sánchez (COL) – 52:59
6 - Marizete de Paula Rezende (BRA) – 53:20
7 - Sirlene Sousa de Pinho (BRA) – 53:59
8 - Margaret Karie Toroitich (KEN) – 54:59
9 - Marizete Moreira dos Santos (BRA) – 55:23
10 - Maria Cristina Rodrigues (BRA) – 55:27

Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF