Rotterdam, The Netherlands - Joshua Chelanga is a man of iron. Just eight days after his 34th birthday the Kenyan won the 27th edition of the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon in 2:08:21, running in very high temperatures of over 25 C.

Hiromi Ominami of Japan was the women's winner in 2:26:37, but due to the extreme heat and very sunny conditions, the organisers decided to stop the race after 3.5 hours to protect the runners against health problems.

Illustrating the difficulty the runners faced, Chelanga was the only one to break 2:10:00. He was nearly two minutes ahead of Takayukuki Matsumiya, who ran 2:10:04, breaking his personal best by sixteen seconds, to finish second. William Kipsang of Kenya came home third in 2:11:04.

Behind Ominami, Helena Kiprop Loshangyan was second in 2:30:11 with Russian Alevtina Biktamirova third in 2:31:02. The very hot conditions were simply too much for most of the runners in the strongest field ever assembled in Rotterdam with fifteen men with a personal best below 2:09:00.

Heat takes toll by 10th kilometre

In the beginning, the race was very promising. A large group set off on a fast pace - 5 km 15:00, 10 km in 29:58 - before the heat began to take its toll. Especially in the southern part of the city, there were nearly no shadows and barely any wind. The temperature, 20 degrees C. at the start, rose quickly to 25 degrees.

The pre-race plan was to reach the half way point in 1:03:30; the lead group of 14 runners - among them Chelanga, Matsumiya, William Kipsang, Isaac Macharia, Patrick Ivuti, Ambesa Tolosa, Emmanuel Mutai, Charles Kibiwott, David Kipkorir, Solomon Bushedich - passed the half in 1:03:54, nearly half a minute above the target time. After passing the Erasmus bridge, again to the northern part of the city, the group broke. At the 30 kilometre point, reached in 1:30:29, three were leading the dance: Chelanga, Matsumiya and Bushendich with Ivuti and Mutai about ten seconds back.

In the Kralingse Bos (Kralingen Wood) at around 32 kilometres, Chelanga made his move. He reached 35 kms in 1:45:43, dropping his opponents. Matsumiya had lost 18 seconds, while Ivuti (1:46:32) amd Bushendich (1:46:45) had lost significantly more.

Chelanga, who was a late entrant made a very strong impression and was cheered by the short-sleeved spectators as the only runner to come home in under 2:10.

"I felt I was in a very good shape and therefore I was running always in front," he said. "At 32 kilometres I decied to make my move. And nobody could follow. Under less hot conditions I think I could have run in the 2:06 range."

The runner-up Matsumiya was very happy with his personal best.

"I was feeling well and wanted to stay in the leading group, and I did succeed," he said. "It was a very difficult marathon but I am very happy.'"

Pre-race favoutite William Kipsang, who won the 2003 Amsterdam Marathon in a personal best of 2:06:39, said: "It was very heavy. I had stomach problems and could not keep up with the leaders. At around 37 kiometres the problems were over and I could come back. I am very happy with my third place."

Hiromi Ominami was happy with her overwhelming victory. "First I have to thank my pacemakers," she said. "They did a wonderful job. I got my water always and the spectators were magnificent. They were always encouraging me. Next year I will come back with my twin sister Takami, who won here in 2002."

Luc Krotwaar, who finished tenth in 2:15:25, captured his seventh national marathon title. Nadja Wijenberg, sixth in the women's race, took the Dutch title in 2:37:25.

Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
 
Leading Results:

MEN -
1. Joshua Chelanga (Ken)         2:08:21
2. Takayuki Matsumiya (Jpn)     2:10:04 (PB)
3. William Kipsang (Ken)            2:11:04
4. Isaac Macharia (Ken)           2:12:06
5. Patrick Ivuti  (Ken)                2:12:24
6. Ambesa Tolosa  (Eth)           2:12:39
7. Emmanuel Mutai (Ken)          2:13:06
8. Janne Holmen (Fin)                2:14:20
9. Charles Kibiwott (Ken)          2:15:12
10. Luc Krotwaar (Ned)            2:15:28 national champion
11. Simon Munyutu (Fra)          2:17:00
12. David Kipkorir (Ken)           2:17:28
13. Francis Kiprop (Ken)          2:18:20
14. Koen Raymaekers (Ned)    2:19:44
15. Luke Kipkosgei (Ken)          2:19:45
16. Martin Lauret (Ned)             2:20:45

Intermediate times for Chelanga:
 (15:01-29:58- 45:14-1:00:33-1:03:53-1:15:38-1:30:29-1:45:43-2:01:26)

WOMEN -
1. Hiromi Ominami (Jpn)                     2:26:37
2. Helena Kiprop Loshanyang (Ken)   2:30:11
3. Alevtina Biktamirova (Rus)             2:31:02
4. Atsede Baysa (Eth)                        2:33:54
5. Ana Dias (Por)                               2:36:49
6. Nadja Wijenberg (Ned)                   2:37:25 national champion
7. Adanech Zekiros (Eth)                   2:42:47
8. Martha Komu (Ken)                        2:45:01
9. Wendy Jones (GBr)                       2:45:54
10. Florence Chepkurui (Ken)            2:47:18