Paris, France - Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar and Ethiopian Magarsa Assale Tafa were the clear winners of the 31th edition of Paris Marathon held today on French capital’s streets in front of 200,000 spectators. No less than 35,000 participants ran in the difficult conditions - 20° C. and 68% humidity - yet in spite of the warm weather, Shami produced a 2007 world leading mark of 2:07:19 to win by more than two minutes, while Tafa took the women's race in 2:25:07, winning by more than three minutes.

Fast first half takes its toll - Men's race

The pacemakers took out the race on an extremely fast basis, reaching the third kilometer in 8:46. Immediately, a compact group emerged, including Shami, Spanish Record Holder Julio Rey and Ethiopians Gashaw Melese (the 2006 winner), Deriba Merga (Marathon debutante) and Tariku Jifar. During the first half, Melese and Rey showed difficulties staying with the pack, often running a few metres behind. Race organisers urged the pacemakers to slow down after they reached the half way point in 1:02:50, 14 seconds faster than Paul Tergat's pace during his World record run of 2:04:55 three years ago. Rey and Jifar were the first of the leaders to drop.

After the 25Km checkpoint, Shami surged away, immediately followed by inexperienced Merga. For a while, both men helped each other to prevent an eventual comeback from Melese.

As the temperature rose along the banks of the Seine, the runners’ speed dropped just before the 30th kilometer. Nevertheless, Shami produced a second acceleration which left behind a hurting Merga who would eventually fade to 11th overall in 2:13:33.

Shami’s lead was never challenged, and he entered the Avenue Foch alone to win by two minutes, 34 seconds over Melese. Daniel Rono and Elias Kemboi, who followed a more cautious pace, finished third (2:10:28) and fourth (2:10:33) resectively.

Shami now unbeaten in five Marathon appearances

After his fifth place showing at the Paris Half-Marathon on 11 March (60:47) and eighth place at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa on 24 March, the 26-year-old Shami established himself today as one of the best Marathon specialists. His new Qatari National Record of 2:07:19 and 2007 world leader places Shami in 53th position on the all-time list, while clearly challenging the still-exclusive sub-2:07 club. Paris was his fifth Marathon, and he remains unbeaten since his 2005 debut victory in Vienna (2:12:20), which was followed by wins in Venice (2:09:22, 2005) and in Prague (2:11:11) and the Asian Games (2:12:44) last year.

Fast start in women's race too, while Vygovskaya bides her time

Early on, the women’s race was dominated by Ethiopians Asha Gigi and Magarsa Tafa whose fast start gave them a huge early lead over their opponents, including Kenyan Irene Jerotich, by some 30 seconds at the fifth kilometre. Side by side, the Ethiopian pair reached the half in 1:10:12, while just before the 30th kilometre, Frenchwoman Zahia Dahmani was a distant third some two minutes behind. Gigi, like Merga in the men’s race, was weakening and eventually finished fourth.

Coming from the back, Russian Gulnara Vygovskaya and Christelle Dauney of France were some four-and-a-half minutes behind Tafa, and three minutes behind Gigi at the 35th kilometre. They soon caught Gigi, but the 23-year-old Tafa sailed to a clear victory in 2:25:07, smashing her personal best by two minutes, 50 seconds. Vygovskaya reduced the gap with Tafa over the final kilometers and crossed the finish line in 2:28:22, a huge improvement from her previous personal best of 2:32:51. In her Marathon debut, Dauney, finished third in 2:28:54 to become the third fastest French ever.

The women's field represented 16.4% of the participants, who come to the French capital from 87 countries. 72% were French, about 3000 came from Great Britain, 1000 from Italy and 450 for Brasil.

Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF

Leading Results:

MEN -
1) Mubarak Shami (QAT) 2:07:19, WL, NR
2) Gashaw Melese (ETH) 2:09:53
3) Daniel Rono (KEN) 2:10:28
4) Elias Kemboi (KEN) 2:10:33
5) Omar Jimila (MAR) 2:10:44 PB, debut
6) Francis Kipketer (KEN) 2:10:47 PB
7) Samson Barmao (KEN) 2:11:14
8) Ahmed Ezzobayry (FRA)  2:11:18, PB
9) Julio Rey (ESP) 2:11:36
10) Andrew Limo (KEN) 2:11:47, PB

WOMEN -
1) Magarsa Tafa (ETH) 2:25:07, PB
2) Gulnara Vygovskaya (RUS) 2:28:22, PB
3) Christelle Dauney (FRA) 2:28:54, PB, debut
4) Asha Gigi (ETH) 2:29:11
5) Irene Jerotich (KEN) 2:31:12, PB
6) Susanne Hahn (GER) 2:33:25
7) Zahia Dahmani (FRA) 2:35:12
8) Maria Abel (ESP) 2:35:47
9) Mina Ogawa (JAP) 2:38:05
10) Elena Fetizon (FRA) 2:38:38
 
Leaders’ intermediate times :
Men
5km 14:37
10km 29:36
15km 44:25
20km 59:29
25km 1:14:46
30km 1:30:05
35km 1:45:09
40km 2:00:40

Women
5km 16:01
10km 32:57
15km 49:44
20km -
25km 1:23:35
30km 1:40:56
35km 1:58:57
40km 2:17:24