Irina Timofeyeva takes the 2008 Hamburg Marathon in 2:24:14 (© Getty Images)
race favourites Isaac Macharia of Kenya and Irina Timofeyeva of Russia won the 11th Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon, contested over the one-way course from Nagano Sports Park to Nagano Olympic stadium, Nagano, Japan on Sunday 19 April.
Macharia, who crossed the line in 2:11:21, became the third runner to win the Nagano Marathon more than once, having been victorious in the 2005 edition with 2:10:59. Previously, Eric Wainaina won in 2000 and 2003, while Nephat Kinyanjui won thrice from 2006.
For Timofeyeva, who came from behind to win in 2:30:08, it was her first victory at Nagano.
Neither Girma Tolla nor Yoshimi Ozaki made their anticipated breakthrough. Tolla finished second, 50 seconds behind Macharia, while early leader Ozaki finished third one minute ten seconds behind the winner Timofeyeva.
MEN’s Race:
Masaru Takamizawa, who won the last year’s Hokkaido Marathon, pushed the pace in the early stages. A huge lead pack headed by Takamizawa passed 5Km in 15:44 and 10Km in 31:20 (15:36). By 15Km (46:57 (15:37)), this lead pack had been reduced to fourteen runners.
Although the pace stayed moderate (20Km in 1:02:38 (15:41)), by half way (1:06:04) the race was down to a contest between ten runners. Of these Takamizawa fell behind the pace first, while up front Girma Tolla, Yuriy Hychun, Isaac Macharia, Norman Dlomo and Simon Wangai were pushing the pace.
Soon Isaac Macharia upped the tempo and his opponents began to fall away. By 30Km (1:34:00 (15:32)) the lead pack was down to five runners, and soon Macharia was running alone in front.
By 35Km (1:49:24 (15:24)), Macharia was six seconds ahead of Wangai and Tola. Macharia continued to extend his lead in the next 7Km and won by 50 seconds over Tolla, while Wangai was another 23 seconds behind.
WOMEN’s Race:
Akemi Ozaki led the race in the early stages. She led by 16 seconds at 5Km (17:31), but the gap narrowed to 11 seconds by 10Km (35:14 (17:43)). Soon Ozaki was caught and by 15Km (53:00 (17:46)) four runners – Irene Limika, Irina Timofeyeva, Derartu Tulu and Ozaki – were running together, with Tatiana Aryasova running 7 seconds behind.
Soon Aryasova caught the leaders and so five runners passed 20Km 1:10:54 (17:54), and half way in 1:14:40.
With Derartu Tulu and Akemi Ozaki falling behind in the next four Km, three runners Limika, Aryasova and Timofeyeva passed 25Km in 1:28:08 (17:14).
The real racing started soon after when Limika broke away from two Russians, and by 30Km (1:45:11 (17:03), Limika led by 48 seconds and although Limika was slowing down, she continued to extend her lead and by 35Km (2:03:05 (17:54) she was one minute 31 seconds ahead of second place Timofeyeva.
However, as Limika slowed down even more (40Km in 2:21 57 (18:52)), Timofeyeva began cutting into her lead. By 40Km, Timofeyeva was only 19 seconds behind, and as Limika faltered badly Timofeyeva passed her in the final stages of the race and won by 42 seconds ahead of the long time leader Limika in 2:30:08.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
Weather: temperature: 16C; humidity: 50%
RESULTS
Men
1) Isaac Macharia (KEN) 2:11:21
2) Girma Tolla (ETH) 2:12:11
3) Simon Wangai (KEN) 2:12:34
4) Gidey Amaha (ETH) 2:15:01
5) Norman Dlomo (RSA) 2:15:45
6) Yuriy Hychun (UKR) 2:15:55
7) Masaki Shimojyu 2:15:57
8) Masayuki Satouchi 2:16:22
9) Masaru Takamizawa 2:17:25
10) Michitane Noda 2:17:50
Splits
5Km 15:44 Masaru Takamizawa
10Km 31:20 Masaru Takamizawa
15Km 46:57 Masaru Takamizawa
20Km 1:02:38 Masaru Takamizawa
Half 1:06:04 Masaru Takamizawa
25Km 1:18:28 Girma Tola
30Km 1:34:00 Isaac Macharia
35Km 1:49:24 Isaac Macharia
40Km 2:04:26 Isaac Macharia
Finish 2:11:21 Isaac Macharia
Women
1) Irina Timofeyeva (RUS) 2:30:08
2) Irene Limika (KEN) 2:30:50
3) Akemi Ozaki 2:31:18
4) Derartu Tulu (ETH) 2:34:17
5) Tatiana Aryasova (RUS) 2:34:32
6) Yoko Yagi 2:36:26
7) Yukako Goto 2:40:50
8) Chihiro Tanaka 2:41:21
9) Kaori Akagawa 2:44:59
10) Yoshimi Hoshino 2:45:24
Splits:
5Km 17:31 Akemi Ozaki
10Km 35:23 Akemi Ozaki
15Km 53:00 Irene Limika
20Km 1:10:54 Tatiana Aryasova
Half 1:14:40 Tatiana Aryasova
25Km 1:18:08 Irene Limika
30Km 1:45:11 Irene Limika
35Km 2:03:05 Irene Limika
40Km 2:21:57 Irene Limika
Finish 2:30:08 Irina Timofeyeva
