Report27 Apr 2008


2:07:38 course record for Kirui, Talpos defends - Vienna Marathon report

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2:07:38 course record for Abel Kirui in Vienna (© Victah Sailer)

Abel Kirui’s 2:07:38 victory underscored Kenyan marathon runners' superiority at the Jubilee 25th edition of the Vienna City Marathon.

Kenyan men took the first eight places, producing the best quality results ever seen at this race. The 25 year-old Kirui set a course record and achieved the first sub 2:08 time in the history of the event. He clearly improved the mark of Marocco’s Lahoucine Mrikik who had won in Vienna with 2:08:20 in 2006. Two more runners finished inside 2:09: Duncan Kibet was second in his debut with 2:08:33 while Paul Biwott ran 2:08:53.

In warm weather conditions with temperatures of well over 20 degrees Celsius at the end of the race Luminita Talpos made it two in a row. The 35-year-old defending champion from Romania clocked 2:26:43 which is the third fastest ever in the history of the race. Tomo Morimoto (Japan) was second with 2:29:01 while Beatrice Omwanza (Kenya) took third in 2:37:36.

Solid pacemaking in men’s race

A year ago for some reason the favourites decided not to go with the pacemakers. That did not happen today. Pacemakers did a perfect job, guiding the lead group through 10 km in 30:11, half way in 63:44 and finally 30 km in 1:30:26. At that point four runners from Kenya were still in the contest for victory: Kirui, Kibet, Biwott and William Rotich.

It was especially Kirui who increased the pace after the 30 km mark. Kibet, the training partner of marathon greats Martin Lel and Robert Cheruiyot, was the only one able to match that pace as the kilometres ticked away. Splits for each kilometre were now run in 2:55 or 2:56.

When Kirui then opened the decisive gap at 35 k (1:45:04) in the Prater Park he seemed to be on the way for a time under 2:06:30. But partly running in the sun over the last five kilometres he slowed.

“Running alone it was getting hard,” Kirui said. “I got tired and it got very warm as well.”

“Still I have achieved my main goal which was the course record. Next year I will try to train even better and then will come back to further improve.”

Taking the Vienna City Marathon was Kirui’s biggest career win. In Berlin he had placed second behind Haile Gebrselassie with a personal best of 2:06:51 in 2007.

“In autumn I want to return to the Berlin Marathon,” Kirui said.

Second placed Duncan Kibet ran a fine debut over the distance in Vienna. “I think I have now upgraded and can call myself a marathon runner,” he said after his 2:08:33 performance. “I will be able to further improve and plan to run an autumn marathon.”

Talpos upsets Morimoto - women’s race

Soon after the start, the women’s race looked to be going the way it was expected: Tomo Morimoto took the lead, closely followed by Luminita Talpos and Beatrice Omwanza. Having won the Vienna City Marathon two years ago with a personal best of 2:24:33, the Japanese had been regarded as the favourite and was looking to further improve in the Austrian capital.

But it was not Morimoto’s day.

“Today it felt hard right from the beginning and I got problems at around 17 k,” said Morimoto, who had narrowly missed out on Olympic qualification earlier in the year.

Defending champion Luminita Talpos then took the lead. At half way (1:12:38) the Romanian had a lead of four seconds which she then constantly increased. She passed 30 km in 1:43:00 but then also slowed in the rising temperatures, which were warmer than forecasted.

“For me it was no surprise to defend my title,” the Romanian said. “I came here to win the race and to qualify for the Olympic team.” After improving her five year-old personal best by 49 seconds she expects to gain selection for Beijing.

Adding all running events, a record number of 30,072 athletes from more than 100 nations had entered the jubilee edition of the race. The race became the biggest running event ever seen in Austria. Around 300,000 spectators - more than ever before - lined the course to watch the race.

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

Leading Results:
Men -
 1. Abel Kirui, KEN  2:07:38
 2. Duncan Kibet, KEN  2:08:33
 3. Paul Biwott, KEN  2:08:53
 4. Willliam Rotich, KEN  2:12:18
 5. Andrew Limo, KEN  2:12:27
 6. Samson Loywapet, KEN  2:13:23

Women:
 1. Luminita Talpos, ROM  2:26:43
 2. Tomo Morimoto, JPN  2:29:01
 3. Beatrice Omwanza, KEN  2:37:36
 4. Oksana Kuzmicheva, RUS  2:39:54

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