News18 Nov 2007


Ethiopians Dominate Beirut Marathon

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Start of the 2007 Blom Beirut Marathon (© Rima Nehme)

The Ethiopian pair of Tamrat Elanso and Adaneche Beyene Jemilu proved to be easy winners of the BLOM Beirut International Marathon on Sunday.

But pride of place was acknowledged to belong to the meeting organisers who ensured the race went ahead without a hitch despite Lebanon's present political situation.

Race president May El Khalil stressing how it fetches her volatile country together said: "We have people from all sorts of religions and life running. We have entrants from the south and the north."

"They fight each other - but they're coming here to participate. In this race they all wear their white heart and their white t-shirt and they come for the 'Love of Lebanon'."

"Despite the pressure politicians are putting on each other, we have not had any further signals at this stage, asking us to stop. Over 3000 from the army are participating. Really we have everybody on our side and supporting us."

With a controversial Presidential election scheduled for Wednesday, organisers turned down a government suggestion that the race should be postponed.

They refused to concede to what occurred a year ago after the gunning down of a cabinet minister in a nation where political problems regularly develop into bloodshed between warring factions.

"I visited the prime minister three months ago and he suggested we postpone the date," said  El Khalil. "I told him we had already set our minds for 18 November and we were going to carry on. Lots of of people love this event - they believe in this event. We have invested in peoples hearts."

Khalil was delighted in excellent conditions and the event went ahead with positive results for Elanso and Jemilu who led a strong contingent from their country to the Lebanese capital.

"It was important that I succeeded today, it was a good chance for me to win my first marathon," said Elanso, who scorched ahead of his rivals after 35 kilometres to clinch a simple victory.

Elanso who slowed after breaking up the field and running in isolation ahead of his opponents for the last seven kilometres, crossed the finish line in 2:19:46.

Around a slightly adjusted route, devised to making the course record faster - but not on this occasion - he had massive encouragement, with thousands of spectators roaring him along.

The 30-year-old unknown posting a personal best, easily stifled the threat of Kenya's David Kiplagat Kuino and his own countryman Abraham Yilma Belete.

Both those rivals were more favoured to notch a victory but after being dropped by Elanso's spurt, settled for a private battle between themselves.

Kuino this year's Bonn champion winning the joust, pushed Belete into third place for the second succesive year by just three seconds in a time of 2:21:51.

Elanso, untroubled by the 26 degrees temperature, speaking through an interpreter, said: "I felt very good and decided it would be right to go ahead on my own."

"I found it hard running the last part of the race on my own, but knew after getting away I would not be caught."

Jemilu the fastest woman in the field and third in last January's Dubai Marathon, also scored an easy victory in 2:41:24.

She was far superior ahead of her fellow Ethiopians Meseret Legese Regesa and Etaferahu Tarekegn Getahun, who clocked marks of 2:48:52 and 2:55:14.

Organisers: Marathon creates 'a space for hope and a time for celebration'

As pleasing as the winner's performances and their USD 3000 cheques were, the overall champion remained the BLOM Beirut International Marathon.

"We walk the talk, we believe in what we are doing in our attempt to put Lebanon on the international map," said Khalil. "Every great ciy has a marathon."

"During these difficult times it unites people and it becomes a space for hope and a time for celebration. Passion has been one of our strongest tools that we've been using."

David Martin (Press Association) for the IAAF

 

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