Martin Lel wins the 25th Flora London Marathon (© Getty Images)
Kenyan dominance of the Lisbon Half-Marathon continued with wins by Martin Lel and Selina Kosgei. The top five men, and seven of the first eight, hailed from the east African nation, while Kosgei led a podium sweep for Kenya in the women’s contest.
The 16th edition, run under sunny skies in windless and warm (19 C.) conditions, produced yet another fast race. Defending champion Paul Tergat ran from the front for most of the race, until he was passed in the final 400 metres by Lel, Robert Cheruiyot, and World Junior record holder Samuel Wanjiru. Lel, who won here in 2003 and was second in 2004 (59:41), accelerated in the waning stages to produce a 10-metre lead on Cheruiyot to win by five seconds in 59:30. Wanjiru (59:37) held on for third with Tergat, who is training for the London Marathon, fourth in 59:42.
The first four all run under one hour and the first Portuguese was Luís Jesus, sixth in 1:01.29.
"I am very happy,” said Lel, winner of the London Marathon in 2005 and the 2003 World half-marathon champion. “It was very difficult, with the fast running and all the curves. Further back, two-time World Marathon champion Jaouad Gharib crossed the line in ninth place, just behind Kenyan Rodgers Rop.
Kosgei surprises defending champion Chepkemei
In the women’s race, three-time winner Susan Chepkemei (2001, 2002 and 2005) forced the pace ahead of Rose Cheruyot and Kosgei, before the latter scored an upset in the final sprit en route to her 1:07:52 win.
Kosgei, winner of Paris marathon in 2005, said: "It was a big surprise, I expected nothing. The weather was great, without wind, and I loved it. I expect to come back next year to improve my performance.”
Portuguese legend, Fernanda Ribeiro, Olympic, world and European champion, finished fourth in 1:09:37, her third best time ever on the Lisbon course. The world and European triathlon champion, Vanessa Fernandes reached the line in sixth, after Russian Alina Ivanova.
In all, more then 35,000 runners crossed the 25 of April Bridge, along with Prime Minister José Socrates and the former President Jorge Sampaio.
(NB: With a net elevation loss of 69m, the course is not eligible for record consideration.)
António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF
Leading Results:
MEN -
1. Martin Lel, KEN 59.30
2. Robert Cheruyot, KEN 59.35
3. Samuel Wanjiru, KEN 59.37
4. Paul Tergat, KEN 59.42
5. Félix Limo, KEN 1:01.12
6. Luís Jesus, POR 1:01.29
7. Lawrence Kiprotich, KEN 1:01.30
8. Rodgers Rop, KEN 1:02.24
9. Jaouad Garib, MAR 1:02.42
10. Paulo Gomes, POR 1:03.13
WOMEN -
1. Salina Kosgei, KEN 1:07.52
2. Susan Chepkemei, KEN 1:08.00
3. Rose Cheruyot, KEN 1:09.34
4. Fernanda Ribeiro, POR 1:09.37
5. Alina Ivanova, RUS 1:11.07
6. Vanessa Fernandes, POR 1:12.28
7. Zivile Balciunaite, LIT 1:13.18
8. Emily Kimuria, KE 1:15.04
9. Fátima Silva, POR 1:16.32
10. Malgorzata Sobanska, POL 1:17.08
