James Kutto en route to his 2:08:41 course record in Florence (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Florence, ItalyKenyan James Kutto took the honours at the 23th edition of the Florence Marathon smashing the course record in 2:08:41, defeating Italian Francesco Ingargiola, who crossed the finish line in 2:12:18. Third was Kenyan Kendy Kimeli Kemei in 2:13:36. The race was held on a warm November morning with temperatures rising to above 20° degrees C.
Italian Vincenza Sicari won the women’s race in 2:34:52 in her first serious attempt over the distance despite a liver problem which affected her race after the 33km point when she was running inside a sub-2:30 schedule.
MEN - Pacesetter Kutto stays on course
The men’s race started at a fast pace thanks to the good pacemaking job made by Italian Cosimo Caliandro (a former European junior champion in the 1500 metres in Grosseto 2001) who ran the first 10km in 30:07. Pre-race favourite Hicham Chatt, who ran an outstanding 2:07:59 last April in London, lost ground on the leading group and was forced to drop out after 15 km.
Six men formed the lead group which included Kenyan pacemaker Benjamin Kiptoo, Caliandro (who had the task to pace his teammate Ingargiola until halfway), Kutto, Ingargiola and Joel Saitoti. Kiptoo set a fast pace running 63:53 at halfway, which was 40 seconds faster than the time agreed on the eve of the race.
Ingargiola and Kutto pulled away from the rest of the field after 25 km (75:48). Running a 2:58 split between the 26th and 27th kilometre, Kutto dropped Ingargiola by 10 seconds. At 30km the Kenyan upped the pace increasing his lead over the Italian to 24 seconds.
Kutto, who started the Florence race as a pacemaker, decided to continue the race until the end. He kept a sub 3 minutes pace for kilometre clocking 1:45:54 at 35 km (inside a final 2:08 pace). Ingargiola and little-known Kenyan Joel Saitoti, who were dropped by 1:40 at 35km, engaged in a neck and neck battle for second place.
The final kilometres run over the challenging section of the course inside the centre of the Tuscan city were slower but Kutto’s first place was never under threat.
Kimeli Kenei closed the gap on fading Saitoti holding him off for third place in 2:13:36.
“It was the first race of my career in Europe. My marathon career begins here in Florence,” said Kutto.
Ingargiola, who had originally planned to run in New York on 5 November opted to run in Florence only one month ago. The 33-year-old athlete from Sicily (2:08:48 in Rome 2000), commented: “We ran at a very fast pace in the first half, but the last kilometres the course became more challenging. If the pace had been more regular in the first part I could have clocked a 2:09 time,” said Ingargiola.
WOMEN - Despite problems, largely solo run for Sicari
Vincenza Sicari had to fight against liver problems in the last section of the race after she was left out alone in front at 30km when local favourite Gloria Marconi dropped out. Sicari crossed the finish-line in 2:34:52.
Sicari and Marconi engaged in an Italian battle in the first half running the 10km mark in 34:56. At halfway Sicari surged the pace dropping Marconi by six seconds.
Marconi dropped out after 30km when Sicari, who ran her first serious marathon after completing a test in Carpi last October in 2:37:00, was running at a 2:29 pace through to 30km. Three kilometres later she slowed dramatically. However, she defended her first place to the end after building up a solid gap over Monica Carlin (Italy) and Sigrid Valdre (Estonia) in the first part of the race.
“Until 33 km I felt very well,” Sicari said. “I was running at 2:30 pace but at this point I could not breathe. I cannot explain what went wrong during the race because I was in good form before the start. I will try another marathon in spring.”
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Top Results:
Men:
1. James Kutto, Kenya 2:08:41
2. Francesco Ingargiola, Italy 2:12:18
3. Kenedy Kimeli Kemei, Kenya 2:13:36
4. Joel Saitoti, Kenya, 2:14:00
5. Philip Biwott, Kenya 2:14:29
6. James Theury Kibochon, France 2:14:38
7. Benjamin Kolum Kiptoo, Kenya 2:16:08
8. Rachid Kisri, Morocco, 2:18:18
Women:
1. Vincenza Sicari, Italy 2:34:52
2. Monica Carlin, Italy 2:46:31
3. Sigrid Valdre, Estonia 2:49:19
