1. Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, KEN 2:07:35 $125,000 + 15,000i
2. Daniel Njenga, KEN 2:07:40 65,000 + 15,000i
3. Jimmy Muindi, KEN 2:07:51 40,000 + 15,000i
4. Abdi Abdirahman, Tucson, AZ 2:08:56 PB 25,000 + 4,500a + 10,000i + 2,500#
5. Robert Cheboror, KEN 2:09:25 15,000 + 7,500i
6. Brian Sell, Rochester Hills, MN 2:10:47 PB 3,500a + 5,500i + 2,500#
7. Japhet Kosgei, KEN 2:11:37 3,500i
8. Benjamin Maiyo, KEN 2:11:53 3,500i
9. Dejene Berhanu, ETH 2:12:27
10. Meshack Kosgei Kirwa*, KEN 2:12:31
11. Thomas Kiplitan, KEN 2:13:43 DB
12. Clint Verran, Rochester Hills, MN 2:14:23 2,500a + 2,500#
13. Charles Kibiwott, KEN 2:15:00
14. Chad Johnson, Rochester Hills, MN 2:15:03 PB 2,250a + 2,500#
15. Mike Morgan, Rochester Hills, MN 2:15:11 PB 1,750a + 2,500#
16. Kyle O'Brien, Shelby Township, MI 2:15:13 PB 1,750a + 2,500#
17. Brandon Leslie, Albuquerque, MN 2:15:20 PB 1,750a + 2,500#
18. Luke Humphrey, Rochester Hills, MI 2:15:22 PB 1,500a + 2,500#
19. John Yuda, TAN 2:15:23
20. Jason Hartmann, Boulder, CO 2:15:50 DB 1,500a + 2,500#
21. Wilson Onsare, KEN 2:16:12
22. Nicholas Arciniaga, Fountain Valley, CA 2:16:58 DB 1,500a + 2,500#
23. Marty Rosendahl, Rochester, MI 2:17:05 PB 1,500a + 2,500#
24. Josh Ordway, Fairborn, OH 2:17:13 PB 1,500a + 2,500#
25. Chris Seaton, Raleigh, NC 2:17:32 PB 1,250a + 2,500#
26. Odilon Cuahutle Rojas, MEX 2:18:43
27. John Lucas, Eugene, OR 2:18:50 1,250a + 2,500#
28. Dave Ernsberger, Little Lake, MI 2:18:56 1,250a + 2,500#
29. Dan Sutton, Madison, WI 2:19:18 1,250a + 2,500#
30. Donnie Fellows, Woodbury, MN 2:19:23 1,250a + 2,500#
31. Justin Young, Boulder, CO 2:19:25 DB 1,250a + 2,500#
32. John Mentzer, Monterey, CA 2:19:33 1,000a + 2,500#
33. Jason Ryf, Oshkosh, WI 2:19:37 PB 1,000a + 2,500#
34. Jason Warick, CAN 2:19:39
35. Pat Rizzo, USA 2:20:12 1,000a + 1,500#
36. Matt Levassiur, Alamosa, CO 2:20:15 DB 1,000a + 1,500#
37. Justin Patananan, Palmdale, CA 2:20:19 PB 1,000a + 1,500#
38. David Gramlich, Boardman, OH 2:20:19 PB 1,000a + 1,500#
39. Matt Pelletier, Warwick, RI 2:20:26 1,000a + 1,500#
40. Patrick Moulton, Pelham, NH 2:20:27 1,500#
41. David Williams, Milwaukee, WI 2:20:28 1,500#
42. Corey Stelljes, Madison, WI 2:20:32 1,500#
43. Antonio Arce, Mammoth Lakes, CA 2:20:32 1,500#
44. Marc Jeuland, Carrboro, NC 2:20:33 1,500#
45. Karl Dusen, New York, NY 2:20:35 1,500#
46. Nicholas Stanko, Haslett, MI 2:20:37 1,500#
47. Gene Mitchell, Ardmore, PA 2:20:48 1,500#
48. Donnie Franzen, Chicago, IL 2:20:49 1,500# + 1,500@
49. Chris Wehrman, Chicago, IL 2:20:55 1,500# + 750@
50. Pete Gilman, Rochester, MN 2:20:57 1,500#
51. Todd Snyder, USA 2:21:00 1,500#
52. Eric Post, Centreville, VA 2:21:00 1,500#
53. Thomas Kutter, Loganville, GA 2:21:05 1,500#
54. Garick Hill, Winston-Salem, NC 2:21:18 1,500#
55. David Vedrine, FRA 2:21:40
56. Jonathan Little, Kansas City, MO 2:21:48 1,500#
57. Nathan Wadsworth, Andover, KS 2:21:51 1,500#
58. Edward Callinan, Haddonfield, NJ 2:21:56 1,500#
59. Alan Horton, Knoxville, TN 2:21:58 1,500#
60. Jeff Gaudette, Rochester, MI 2:22:02
61. Edwardo Torres, Boulder, CO 2:22:07 DB
62. Terrence Shay, Somerville, MA 2:22:25
63. Leo Komanik, Akron, OH 2:22:29
64. Josh Eberly, Rochester, MI 2:22:33
65. Nathan Usher, Lansing, MI 2:22:41
66. Destry Johnson, Puyallup, WA 2:23:22
67. Ian Dickinson, Sparks, MD 2:23:26
68. Mark Larosa, Melrose, MA 2:23:48
69. Mark Stenbeck, Littleton, CO 2:23:48
70. Thomas Frazer, Indianapolis, IN 2:24:00
Richard Kiplagat, KEN DNF (pace)
Sammy Kipketer, KEN DNF (pace)
Charles Kiama, KEN DNF (pace)
Luke Kipkoskei, KEN DNF (pace)
Gilbert Koech, KEN DNF
Feyissa Tusse, ETH DNF
John Henwood, NZL DNF (1:02:25 at 20-K)
40+:
1. Craig Fram, 48, Plaistow, VT 2:30:56 $2,500
2. John Mirth, 44, Platteville, WI 2:32:45 2,000
3. Martin Rodriguez, 40, MEX 2:36:26 1,250
*Was listed as "Kirwa Meshack" at the Mumbai Marathon on 15-Jan-2006
a = Earned USA development funds
# = Earned USA Olympic Trials bonus ($2,500 for 2:20 or better and $1,500 for 2:22 or better)
@ = Earned Illinois resident prize money
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot slid into the record books here today in a way that nobody could have predicted, becoming the first man ever to win the Boston and Chicago Marathon crowns in the same year.
The 28 year-old Kenyan, who broke the BAA Boston Marathon course record last April, had nearly finished an exhausting battle against a top-notch field and had raised his arms in victory. But he never got to the finish tape. As he stepped on a wet sponsor decal stuck to the roadway just ahead of the first timimg mat, his feet slipped out from under him, causing him to slide on his back under the finish tape, as the back of his head slammed into the pavement.
"What happened was he just slipped," said Pat Savage, the head referee for the event who confirmed Cheruiyot's 2:07:35 official time. "He was starting to lean back as he went into the banner," he added referring to the finish tape which was stretched across his path. "Luckily for him, he slipped completely forward."
Lucky indeed. Both the timing chip affixed to his shoe and most of his torso broke the plane of the finish line, conferring on him the status of race champion. At first he did not move, then he sat up holding his head as race officials rushed to his aid. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and will be held there overnight for observation, according to executive race director, Carey Pinkowski.
"Robert did not want to go to the hospital," Pinkowski said.
Before his dramatic fall, Cheruiyot had been locked in a three-way battle with compatriots Jimmy Muindi and Daniel Njenga. Njenga, who had twice finished second and twice finished third here, came into the finish straight just a couple of steps behind Cheruiyot, a training partner of marathon world record-holder, Paul Tergat. Njenga fought mightily to beat Cheruiyot, nearly drawing even with him at one point, but Cheruiyot's final push to the line was just too strong.
"As you know Robert Cheruiyot is a very strong man," said Njenga after the race. "From the third kilometer (to go) me and Muindi, who is number three, we were trying to push each other."
With Cheruiyot on the pavement, Njenga thought for a moment that he may have won the race. "After he fell down, me, I thought I'm the one who won the race," said Njenga his voice cracking with emotion. "Then somebody told me that I'm number two." The stately Kenyan then paused as tears overwhelmed him. "What I'll do is I'll do my best for upcoming races," he said wiping his eyes. He added: "I have to accept it."
Njenga finished five seconds down on Cheruiyot, while Jimmy Muindi, the five-time Honolulu Marathon champion, finished third in 2:07:51, just one second off of his personal best. American Abdi Abdirahman came home fourth in a huge personal best of 2:08:56 and became the fifth-fastest American of all time.
"To be honest, the race was a great race," said Abdirahman. "I ran they way I wanted to run."
American Brian Sell finished sixth in 2:10:47, also a personal best, despite running more than 90% of the race by himself. "Twenty-five point-three," answered Sell when he was asked how many of the 26.2 miles of the race he ran alone. He had wanted to break 2:10. "I thought for sure I was in 2:09 shape," he said.
In all, 19 American men ran below the 2:20 barrier, many of them qualifying for the USA Olympic Trials for the first time.
1. Berhane Adere, ETH 2:20:42 NR $125,000 + 45,000i 2. Galina Bogolomova, RUS 2:20:47 NR 65,000 + 45,000i 3. Benita Johnson, AUS 2:22:36 NR 40,000 + 15,000i 4. Madai Perez, MEX 2:22:59 NR 25,000 + 15,000i 5. Constantina Tomescu-Dita, ROM 2:24:25 15,000 + 10,000i 6. Nuta Olaru, ROM 2:25:37 7,500i 7. Hiromi Ominami, JPN 2:26:04 5,500i 8. Ludmila Petrova, RUS 2:27:08 3,500i 9. Kathy Butler, GBR 2:28:39 PB 10. Dulce Maria Rodríguez, MEX 2:28:54 PB 11. Lidia Simon, ROM 2:30:39 12. Elva Dryer, Gunnison, CO 2:31:48 DB 4,500a + 2,500# 13. Colleen De Reuck (40+), Boulder, CO 2:33:18 3,500a + 2,500# 14. Kate Smyth, AUS 2:33:39 15. Dana Coons, Charlottesville, VA 2:38:18 PB 2,500a + 2,500# 16. Melissa White, Rochester Hills, MI 2:39:21 DB 2,250a + 1,500# 17. Mary Kate Bailey, Arlington, VA 2:40:12 PB 1,750a + 1,500# 18. Wendi Ray, Sister Bay, WI 2:40:46 1,750a + 1,500# 19. Erin Moeller, Cedar Rapids, IA 2:41:08 1,750a + 1,500# 20. Veena Reddy, Philadelphia, PA 2:42:03 1,500a + 1,500# 21. Shannon Hovey, West Simsbury, CT 2:42:08 PB 1,500a + 1,500# 22. Stephanie Herbst-Lucke (40+), Atl., GA 2:42:53 1,500a + 1,500# 23. Dot McMahan, Rochester Hills, MI 2:43:27 1,500a + 1,500# 24. Jamie Krzyminski, Chicago, IL 2:43:34 1,500a + 1,500@ + 1,500# 25. Denise Robson, CAN 2:44:36 26. Jenny Deweese, Ashville, NC 2:44:55 1,250a + 1,500# 27. Megan Holden, Sound Beach, NY 2:44:57 1,250a + 1,500# 28. Helen Stanton, AUS 2:44:59 29. Yolanda Flamino, Rochester Hills, MI 2:45:19 1,250a + 1,500# 30. Jackie Dikos, Indianapolis, IN 2:45:35 1,250a + 1,500# 31. Vanessa Hunter, Arlington, VA 2:45:35 1,250a + 1,500# 32. Kristine Spence, Ogden, UT 2:45:38 1,250a + 1,500# 33. Heather May, Bloomington, IN 2:45:52 1,000a + 1,500# 34. Brianna Torres, Phoenix, AZ 2:45:57 1,000a + 1,500# 35. Caryn Heffernan, Bothell, WA 2:46:11 1,000a + 1,500# 36. Brett Romano Ely, Cambridge, MA 2:46:12 1,000a + 1,500# 37. Laurie S. Knowles, Atlanta, GA 2:46:31 1,000a + 1,500# 38. Doreen McCoubrie (40+), Malvern, PA 2:46:33 1,000a + 1,500# 39. Megan Daly, Menlo Park, CA 2:46:53 1,000a + 1,500# 40. Katie Lee, Danville, CA 2:47:46 41. Briana Whaley, Richmond, VA 2:47:51 42. Diane Matthews, Johnson City, NY 2:48:10 43. Erin Chlumsky, Boulder, CO 2:48:11 44. Jessica Bliss, Merrillville, IN 2:48:21 45. Genevieve Kiley, Seattle, WA 2:48:34 46. Paige Higgins, Littleton, CO 2:48:34 (correct) 47. Laura Seims, Fort Lewis, WA 2:48:56 48. Rachel Rich, Buffalo City, WA 2:49:11 49. Lauren Matthews, Seattle, WA 2:49:13 50. Ginger Reiner, Cambridge, MA 2:49:22 51. Christy Nielsen, Omaha, NE 2:49:25 52. Julie Nelson, Eyota, MN 2:49:31 53. Stephanie Dueringer, Indianapolis, IN 2:49:33 54. Magdalena Visser, San Francisco, CA 2:50:00 55. Ann Schaeffers Coles (40+), Cary, IL 2:50:00 $750@ 56. Susan Empey, Mercer Island, WA 2:50:19 57. Johanna Thomas, Allston, MA 2:50:40 58. Audry Giesler, Downers Grove, IL 2:50:45 250@ 59. Suzanne Ryan, Wheaton, IL 2:50:48 60. Yarrow Pasche, Decorah, IA 2:50:53 61. Angela Swift, CAN 2:51:00 62. Shaluinn Fullove, Menlo Park, CA 2:51:06 63. Tammie Robie, Milford, NH 2:51:32 64. Diona Fulton, Sommerville, MA 2:51:39 65. Christen Meyer, LaGrange, IL 2:51:42 66. Tera Moody, Boulder, CO 2:52:02 67. Megan Tichy, San Francisco, CA 2:52:16 68. Abbi Gleeson, New York, NY 2:52:30 69. Marybeth Reader, West Bloomfield, MI 2:52:33 70. Jessica Langford, Rockford, IL 2:52:59 71. Maggie Grabow, Madison, WI 2:53:03 72. Gayle White, New York, NY 2:53:14 73. Amy Haas, Brookline, MA 2:53:21 74. Lucie Mays-Sulewski, Westfield, IN 2:53:44 75. Amanda Tate, Bristol, VA 2:53:47 76. Leslie Gold, CAN 2:54:11 77. Wendy Hagle, Bonney Lake, WA 2:54:19 78. Erica Larson Baron, Los Alamos, NM 2:54:23 79. Jessica Swan, Milwaukee, WI 2:54:26 80. Stephanie Oman, Atlanta, GA 2:54:40 81. Ashley Ruberg, Louisville, KY 2:54:48 82. Hilary Dudley, Jamaica Plain, MA 2:54:49 83. Liz Maguire, CAN 2:54:55 84. Tina Chase, Naperville, IL 2:55:00 40+: 1. De Reuck (above) 2:33:18 $2,500 2. Herbst-Lucke (above) 2:42:53 2,000 3. McCoubrie (above) 2:46:33 1,250 a = Earned USA development funds # = Earned USA Olympic Trials bonus ($2,500 for 2:39 or better and $1,500 for 2:47 or better) @ = Earned Illinois resident prize money
WOMEN
NOTE: Constantina Tomescu-Dita's 25-K (1:21:31) and 30-K (1:38:30) splits are pending IAAF world records; previous 1:22:13 and 1:38:49, Mizuki Noguchi, Berlin Marathon (split), 25-Sep-2005. The Association of Road Running Statisticians (ARRS) does not recognize en route times for world records, even if well measured and documented --Ed.
Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania attempted to do what she said she would before the race: break 2:20 and run the fastest marathon of her career. She wasn't successful in the end, but her brave run made for some exciting racing.
The splits tell the tale. Running first behind a group of men, which included several of the Hansons runners, Tomescu-Dita flew threw 5-K in 16:04, 10-K in 32:13, 15-K in 48:14, 20-K in 1:04:30 and the half-way mark in 1:08:07, times which would have won most races at those distances. Her half-way split was just five seconds slower than Paula Radcliffe's when she set her mixed-gender world record of 2:15:25 at the Flora London Marathon in 2003.
"I think now it was too fast," said Tomescu-Dita looking back at her race.
It was not as if the other women were running slowly. Behind Tomescu-Dita, six women had sailed through half-way in 1:10:15, including Berhane Adere, Galina Bogolomova, Benita Johnson, Madai Perez, Hiromi Ominami, and Ludmila Petrova. True, they couldn't see Tomescu-Dita but they were hoping that she would come back.
"We did have a feeling somewhere along the course we would catch her," said Bogomolova, a Russian, through a translator, after the race.
At 25-K (1:21:31/pending IAAF world record), and 30-K (1:38:30/pending IAAF world record), Tomescu-Dita was still leading by about two minutes, but by 35 km (1:55:54), her margin was down to one minute and 14 seconds. "I feel bad after 35 kilometers," Tomescu-Dita said later.
The Romanian's 5 km split from 35 km to 40 km was only 19:10, and Adere and Bogolomova passed her barely a look. It would now be either the Ethiopian or the Russian who would get the victory. As in the men's race, it came down to the final sprint. The tiny Bogolomova fought bravely, but she was no match for the taller Ethiopian, the 2003 world champion at 10,000m. Adere skipped over the finish line in 2:20:42, shattering Derartu Tulu's Ethiopian record set at Berlin just last month.
"When I went sub-five kilometers and I was going for the win," Adere explained after the race. "I'm very happy to win," she added.
Bogomolova finished just five seconds back in a new Russian record of 2:20:47. Johnson (2:22:36) and Perez (2:22:59) also established national records. Dita finished fifth in 2:24:25, slowed to a jog the last two kilometers.
"The last 2-K I died," she said.
Despite the cold and windy conditions, a staggering 54 women broke the 2:50 barrier here today, with 84 women running 2:55 or better.