Women's podium in Beijing: runner-up Zhang Yingying, winner Chen Rong, and Bai Xue (© Octagon)
Beijing, ChinaCompeting under warm sunny skies, Kenyan Nephat Kinyanjui and teenager Chen Rong took the victories at the 26th Ana Beijing Marathon.
Kinyanjui kicked away in the final kilometre to win the men's title in 2:08:09 beating his personal best of 2:11:18, which earned him the Nagano Marathon title in 2006. Chinese youngster Ren Longyun, who had run shoulder-to-shoulder with Kinyanjui for most of the race, faded to finish second in 2:08:16. Another Chinese, Han Gang, placed third in 2:08:56.
Kinyanjui, 30, said excitedly after the race: "This is my first time running the Beijing Marathon and I've felt great about it. Although there is a little uphill and downhill along the road, the route in general is very good. The weather was great and I didn't feel any pollution. I just did my personal best here, so I'm very happy."
Many people were concerned about the air pollution in Beijing, which may affect athletes' performance, but it wasn't the case on Sunday.
Ren, who celebrated his 20th birthday just nine days ago, received a late present, his 2:08:16 a Chinese national record. Ren was a distant 49th at the World championships in Osaka, where he clocked 2:35:22. It was also a big personal best for Han, whose previous best effort was 2:13:22 from Shanghai in 2005.
Host teenagers go 1-2-3 – women’s race
Host runners swept the podium in the women's race, won by Chen Rong who clocked 2:27:05 for the crown, 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Zhang Yingying and a further 26 seconds clear of third-place finisher Bai Xue.
"The weather actually helped quite a bit," said the 19-year-old Chen Rong. "The last five kilometres was very difficult, so winning it with my personal best of over seven minutes was a big surprise. This is only the fifth time I am in a full Marathon competition. Now I just hope that there is a chance for me to run next year's Olympics."
Boding well for Chinese fortunes in this event, runner-up Zhang is just 17, and Bai 18. Both produced career bests as well.
It took nearly 20 minutes for all 25,000 runners to leave the National Olympic Sports Centre, one street across the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Centre), the two main venues for next year's Olympic Games. There were 68 male and 21 female elite runners in this year's race, with a decent crowd lining the streets along the way.
The race coincided with the last day of the Chinese Communist Party's 17th Congress, held once every five years. While the date and route of the 26-year-old event were set a year ago, the date for the congress was announced only in late August. Instead of starting in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, the race then started and finished at the National Olympic Sports Center in the north part of the capital.
Jiang Yi for the IAAF
Leading Results –
Men -
1. Nephat Kinyanjui, KEN 2:08:09
2. Ren Longyun, CHN 2:08:15
3. Han Gang, CHN 2:08:56
4. David Kipkorir Mandago, KEN 2:09:59
5. Luka Chelimo, KEN 2:10:47
6. Kataoka Yusuke, JPN 2:12:28
7. Kiprotich Kenei, KEN 2:14:30
8. Chen Guoqiang, CHN 2:14:39
9. John Maluni, KEN 2:14:51
10. Su Wei, CHN 2:14:53
Women -
1. Chen Rong, CHN 2:27:05
2. Zhang Yingying, CHN 2:27:20
3. Bai Xue, CHN 2:27:46
4. Zhu Yingying, CHN 2:28:47
5. Jo Pun Hui, PRK 2:29:16
6. Zhang Xin, CHN 2:31:29
7. Jong Yong Ok, PRK 2:32:28
8. Yang Fengxia, CHN 2:33:11
9. An Un Suk, PRK 2:33:12
10. Kim Kum Ok, PRK 2:33:58
