Kenya's Alice Chelangat wins in Amatrice-Configno (© Zorzi)
Twice World marathon bronze medallist Stefano Baldini of Italy confirmed his ambition to take a medal in the Olympic Marathon by winning in very convincing style at yesterday’s the Amatrice-Configno, a 8.5km road race in the town some 160 km far from Rome.
Kenya's Alice Chelangat, who will run in Athens, took the honours in the women's race.
For both men and women the course was 8.5 km long, with the last 6 km is completely uphill from Amatrice to the tiny village of Configno.
The very hard course has been exalted in the past by some of the biggest names in road racing such as Italy's Orlando Pizzolato and Gelindo Bordin, Kenya's Paul Tergat, Paul Kipkoech, Andrew Masai, Benson Barus, Paul Kosgei, and Mexico's German Silva.
MEN - A solo win for Baldini
Baldini dropped everybody in yesterday’s race thanks to a couple of good moves. The first one was just at the beginning of the uphill stretch, when he put some thirty metres between himself and a trio made up of 1999/2003 World Cross silver medallist Patrick Ivuti (KEN), reigning World Cross junior champion Meba Tadesse (ETH), and Italian Olympic marathon team-mate Daniele Caimmi.
But in half a kilometre the leading pack had rejoined him and Ivuti was for most of the time pacing ahead. Caimmi and then Tadesse lost ground, while Baldini shadowed the Kenyan.
At 6 km Ivuti seemed to gain some metres, but Baldini resisted and then launched his second attack. He took immediately 20 metres over Ivuti, and the last 2 km was a lonely ride toward the win.
Baldini closed out the race with a time of 23:44, 13 seconds ahead of the Kenyan. For third place, Ethiopia's Tadesse paid for his early effort and was passed by both Caimmi (24:34) and Ethiopian countryman Gashaw Melese (24:41). On the finish line he set a time of 24:52, and risked being caught for fifth by Australia's Lee Troop (24:55), who will also run the Olympic Marathon.
Full control of the race
"I'm really satisfied about my performance. I was able to control the race very well," Baldini. He was very close to the course's record, set in 2002 by Kenya's Enock Mitei with a time of 23:30.
"I think that if it had been a little less hot I could have bettered Mitei's time." Baldini had already won the race in 1996 with 23:41, so this year's time is not his best.
Baldini has just come down from St Moritz, where he has been training for four weeks. It was the third stage of the Italian marathon team's preparation. The first two were held in Livigno in June and in Predazzo in July. "Between June and July I ran more than 1800 kilometres, the most I have ever done," confirmed Baldini. "I feel in my best ever shape, everything has gone well. I'm going to reach my 100% in Athens." He will leave for the Greek Capital on 24 August.
A medal to revenge Sydney
"I withdrew in Sydney four years ago because of an injury. I was very well-prepared and the disappointment was enormous," he added. "For all these years I has often been thinking of Athens' race, and now I am ready to run. This is the reason why this year I felt being even more motivated and focused than in previous ones."
"After the two World bronze medals in Edmonton and last year in Paris, I obviously have great expectations, though the Marathon is a race full of surprises," Baldini reflected. "I know some of my rivals can run faster than me in a city marathon, but in a Championships' race I have always showed to be one of the best."
Troop looks toward Athens
"It was really hot and the course is very tough," said 31 years old Troop after the race. "I had very good training in St Moritz in the last five weeks, and this race was just an 'average' run. I decided to run Amatrice-Configno after seeing some Australians ran the race in the past, Rob de Castella above others."
Caimmi to confirm Paris World form
At the 2003 Worlds, Caimmi took a very good 6th with 2:09:29. "I want at least to confirm the race I ran in Paris," he said. In Boston early this year he suffered very much from the heat and after halfway fainted and was forced to withdraw. "But there I suffered from a quick change from a cold to a hot climate. I don't think it will be a problem for me in Athens."
"With such a climate I see as the favourites, the Japanese, South Africans and South Korea's Lee Bong-Ju, more than Kenyans and Ethiopians. And Stefano, of course," he forecasted.
WOMEN - Solo win for Chelangat as well
Alice Chelangat is the third woman in the Kenyan team, which includes two of the main favourites for the Games, reigning World champion Catherine Ndereba and reigning New York and London champion Margaret Okayo.
"It was the fourth time I ran here and after two second places and a fourth I have finally won," said Chelangat, who early this year changed her coach, switching from Gabriele Rosa to another Italian, Claudio Bellini.
She crossed the finish line with a time of 27:36. "I am well-prepared for Athens, there are many super athletes there, but I think I can run a good race," Chelangat added. Cross country and 5000m World junior champion Meselech Melkamu was second with 27:59.
Console searching for better memories
"My last race was the win in Vienna marathon, so I needed a test with a real bib on my chest," said Italy's Rosaria Console, who took the third with 28:15.
"I just want to take better memories away from the Athens' race than the terrible ones I have about Paris last year." In the Paris city race in the spring of 2003 she had set a PB 2:27:48 in second place but returning to the city for the World Championships in the summer, she surprisingly withdrew at about half way.
Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF
RESULTS (8,5 KM)
Men's race
1. Stefano Baldini ITA 23:44
2. Patrick Ivuti KEN 23:57
3. Daniele Caimmi ITA 24:34
4. Gashaw Melese ETH 24:41
5. Meba Tadesse ETH 24:52
6. Lee Troop AUS 24:55
7. Javier Caballero ESP 25:00
8. Simon Kiliu KEN 25:11
9. Michele Gamba ITA 25:14
10. Abraham Chelanga KEN 25:17
Women's race
1. Alice Chelangat KEN 27:36
2. Meselech Melkamu ETH 27:59
3. Rosalba Console ITA 28:15
4. Salome Jepchumba KEN 28:31
5. Hellen Cherono KEN 28:51
