News02 May 2004


Ugandan win in Mombasa marathon

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Start of the 2004 Mombasa Marathon, Kenya - 2 May (© Gidgeon Maundu)

 Uganda’s Alex Malinga beat his Kenyan challengers on their own turf to win the Mombasa
Marathon in offensively hot and humid conditions this morning
but failed in his mission to attain the Athens Olympics qualifying mark.

Jane Omoro led from start to finish in the women's race and clocked 3:08 after running an extra five kilometres after making a wrong turning!

Men's Race
 
Second in last year's Abebe Bikila Memorial Marathon in Ethiopia, Malinga, who is 29 years of age clocked 2:22:01, a time he blamed on the traffic which strayed on the course, and the heat.

Malinga, who was 21st in last year's IAAF World Half Marathon and has a full distance best of 2:14:29, lost valuable seconds when he took a wrong turning at the 35km mark (Kenol), before spectators shouted him back on to the right course.

“It was quite hot here, so hot. and I suffered a muscle pull early in the race but luckily survived," said the winner. "My goal was to attain the Athens Olympics qualifying mark ("A" - 2:15 / "B"- 2:18)." Malinga won US$641 for his efforts.

Second placed Peter Kioi of Kenya who had threatened briefly at around 27km, posted 2:28.01, and next came John Cheboi from the Armed Forces team (2:35:16).

Several athletes retired from dehydration, while one of them, Ethiopia's Salome Gethaun, fourth in the women's race, collapsed near the finish line, but managed to stand up before collapsing again. She was rushed to a local private hospital and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit due to dehydration.

Although the race started at 7:00 am local time to escape the offensive heat and humidity in the Indian Ocean coastal city, temperatures were already at 25 degrees centigrade an hour later, forcing many athletes to drop out because of dehydration.

Women's Race

Jane Omoro, the winner of the 10,000 metres in the last
two Athletics Kenya weekend meetings on the track took the women's win in 3:08.13.

29 year-old Omoro who led from the start said she is also warming up for the nationals and ultimately the Athens Olympics. Grace Chebet in second positions was timed
3:10.09.

“This is the second time I have won the Mombasa
International Marathon and I thank God for that, “ said the winner.

Pricilla Biwott came in third clocking 3:20:31 ahead of Salome Gethaun from Ethiopia who timed 3:32:31.

2003 Paris Marathon champion Beatrice Omwanza easily won
the 10km race.

Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF


Results

Men
1. Alex Malinga (Uganda), 2:22.01
 2. Peter Kioi, 2:28.01
 3. John Cheboi, 2:35.16
 4. David Rotich, 2:35:35
 5. John Wandanyi, 2:37:16
6. Obed Nyangau, 2:39.32
7. Paul Tirop, 2:39.58
8. Peter Mutisya, 2:42:29
9. James Nyakundi, 2:46.06
10. Emmanuel Mbiti, 2:47.14

Women

 1. Jane Omoro, 3:08:13
 2. Grace Chabet, 3:10.09
 3. Pricilla Biwott, 3:20:31
 4. Salome Gethaun (Ethiopia), 3:32.31

Men 10km
 1.Fredrick Cheruiyot, 28:32:50
 2. Nickson Kimaru, 29:56:00
 3. Abei Kirui, 31:10.47
 4.Simon Kungi, 31:34:58
 5. Stephen Njoroge, 32:23:00
 6.Wellington Avanga, 32:37:10
 7. Paul Njuiya, 35:06:44
 8. Joseph Musyoka, 37:22:80
9.  John Mutie, 39:10.00
10. John Nyoike, 51:40.30 

Women 10km
1.Beatrice Omwanza, 34:47.06
 2. Magdalene Syombua, 34:59.05
 3.Jane Muia, 36:35.10
4. Mene Mbengei, 37:30.20
5.Asha Tiren, 39:00.30

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