Eindhoven, HollandWilly Cheruiyot of Kenya became the first athlete in history of the Eindhoven Marathon to win for the second time in this, Netherland's second city. The Kenyan, already the winner in 2000 (2.09.55), clocked a time of 2.10.12 in the 19th edition of the race.
Until approximately 30km, the race which was run in ideal weather, 10 to 12 degrees, overcast and with no wind, looked as if it might produce a time under 2.09.00, as had been hoped for by organizer and former Dutch top marathoner Cor Vriend.
From the beginning there was a big leading group of eighteen runners, which passed 5, 10 and 15 km respectively in 15.18, 30.39 and 46.08. At 20 kms (1.01.12) the group split. Half way was passed in 1.04.30.
At 25 kms (1.16.27) there were eight left: last year’s winner Samuel Tangus, Cheruiyot, Wilson Kigen (running his first marathon), Douglas Rono, Simon Kiprop and Musa Cherutich (all Kenya), Polish Gregorz Gajdus and Moroccan Mostapha el Ryad.
As the pacemakers Kiprop and Cherutich stopped their work at 30 kms (1.31.47), and Tangus and El Ryad fell back, there were only four left who started looking at each other and as a consequence the pace fell back (35 kms in 1.47.36).
Even so by 37 kms Kigen could not follow any longer, and the same fate happened for Rono and Gajdus shortly after, as Cheruiyot accelerated. The latter drew away and became an easy winner.
In the final sprint for the second place Gajdus, who was running his first marathon after three years of injuries, proved to be faster than Rono: 2.10.49 to 2.10.50.
NB. as Dutchwoman Nadja Wijenberg stopped after 32 kilometres, there were no noteworthy results in the women’s race.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF.
Selected Results
Men:
1. Willy Cheruiyot (Ken) 2.10.12
2. Gregorz Gajdus (Pol) 2.10.49
3. Douglas Rono (Ken) 2.10.50
4. Vladimir Tiamchyk (BLS)2.11.38
5. John Kipchumba (Ken) 2.12.59
6. Ronny Ligneel (Bel) 2.13.05
7. Dimtri Semyonov (UKR) 2.13.16
8. Wilson Kigen (Ken) 2.13.49
9. Mykola Antonenko (UKR) 2.13.51
10. Mohammed Guennani (FRA) 2.14.06
11. Gideon Chirchir (Ken) 2.16.37
12. Peter Kimeli Chemei (Ken) 2.16.50
13. John Ngeny (Ken) 2.17.20
14. Said Belhout (ALG) 2.20.59.
