Under clear skies outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA, both the men’s and women’s races at the 29th annual Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run were won in almost identical fashion as each athlete displayed a powerful final kick inside 200 yards to the finish line.
Kenyan Wilson Kiprotich, 26, covered the 13.1-mile distance in a time of 1:01:05 on the men’s side, and fellow Kenyan, 18-year-old Lineth Chepkurui won the women’s race in 1:10:09.
Even though he finished second to Kiprotich, the race was controlled by American Abdi Abdirahman, 29, from Tucson, Ariz. Abdirahman was the only man testing the pack as he flirted with an American half marathon record pace through the majority of the race. He finished in 1:01:07.
In the women’s race, a lively and confident newcomer surprised the competition with her talent and finishing speed. Just over a year in to her professional running career, Chepkurui felt she took a significant step with her victory in Philadelphia’s historic half marathon.
“I was surprised by my performance, but I was confident today,” Chepkurui said. “I trained very hard for this race”
Challenged only by fellow Kenyan Edna Kipalagat, 26, Chepkurui displayed strong form in a talented field that included the 2000 Olympic marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, 34, of Japan.
Ian Monahan (Elite Racing) for the IAAF
2006 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run
Sept. 17, 2006
Top 10 Men
1, Wilson Kiprotich, 26, Kenya, 1:01:05,
2, Abdi Abdirahman, 29, USA, 1:01:07,
3, Sammy Kipketer, 26, Kenya, 1:01:25
4, Mohammed Amyn, 30, Morrocco, 1:01:31,
5, Samuel Ndereba, 28, Kenya, 1:01:50,
6, Reuben Chebii, 24, Kenya, 1:01:57,
7, Luke Kipkosgei, 30, Kenya, 1:02:01,
8, Julius Kibet, 24, Kenya, 1:02:14,
9, Joseph Chirlee, 25, USA, 1:02:18,
10, David Kemboi, 23, Kenya, 1:02:31,
Top 10 Women
1, Lineth Chepkurui, 18, Kenya, 1:10:09,
2, Edna Kiplagat, 26, Kenya, 1:10:12,
3, Kathy Butler, 32, Great Britain, 1:11:05
4, Yurika Nakamura, 20, Japan, 1:11:20,
5, Dulce Marie Rodriguez, 34, Mexico, 1:11:25,
6, Colleen De Reuck, 42, USA, 1:11:50,
7, Kiyoko Shimahara, 29, Japan, 1:12:00,
8, Naoko Takahashi, 34, Japan, 1:12:00,
9, Samia Akbar, 23, USA, 1:13:12
10, Magdalene Makunzi, 23, Kenya, 1:13:16,
