Amane Gobena celebrates the biggest win of her career at the Osaka Marathon. © www.photorun.net
Amane Gobena celebrated the biggest triumph of her career by winning the prestigious Osaka Marathon on Sunday. The 27-year-old took home the title, running 2:25:14 in light rain and chilly temperatures. Gobena defeated Portuguese runner Marisa Barros (2:25:45) and Japan’s Mari Ozaki (2:26:27) in this long-established marathon reserved for just elite women. In Japan, elite-only races are part of a series that runs from November to March.
After a fast opening pace, the lead pack was comprised of six runners. They reached the half-marathon mark in 1:10:44 hours. Approximately five kilometers later, the group thinned to just three runners despite the fact that the pace was slackening somewhat. Barros led. She was followed by Gobena and Ozaki. But then it became a two-person race as Ozaki lost contact shortly after 30 kilometers (1:40:57), leaving the remaining pair to duel for to the finish line. Even though both runners ran slower than earlier in the race, it still didn’t take away from the excitement. Just four kilometers from the finish, Gobena surged and broke away from her Portuguese rival who had finished a creditable sixth in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
Barros finished second with Ozaki coming in third. Lidia Simon (Romania/2:27:11) and the Japanese pair of Kyoko Obata (2:27:19) and Ryoko Kizaki (2:27:34) finished fourth through sixth respectively. As many as six women finished under 2:28—a true sign of the field’s competitiveness.
Amane Gobena’s time of 2:25:14 in Osaka was also her personal best. The Ethiopian’s marathon debut was just last year when she finished fifth in Houston in 2:32:06. She then achieved a highly creditable second place in Los Angeles, improving her time considerably to 2:26:53. Last fall, the 27-year-old ran a third marathon and won Toronto in 2:28:31.
Bernard Lagat Makes History at Millrose Games in New York
Bernard Lagat—king of the Millrose Mile. © www.photorun.net
Bernard Lagat achieved a record at the Millrose Games in New York: the American won the Mile for the eighth time on Madison Square Garden’s narrow track. After eleven laps, Lagat crossed the line in 3:56.34 minutes ahead of Asbel Kiprop (Kenya/3:58.03) and Andy Baddeley (United Kingdom/3:58.09).
According to the Millrose Games Web site, Lagat decided to donate his $2500 Millrose Games bonus as well as any future bonuses from this season’s indoor races to the Haiti Relief Fund.
Lagat’s victory in the meeting’s 103rd edition is especially significant in that he has now surpassed Eamonn Coghlan in terms of overall wins in the famous mile race. The Irishman won the event on seven occasions at the Millrose Games.
“To have won today is for me like winning the Olympics. I first ran here in 2001. I’ve signed autographs today for kids who weren’t even born then,” said the 35-year-old who made headlines when he did the double over 1500 meters and 5,000m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Two years later at the World Championships in Berlin, Lagat won the 1500m and took silver in the 5,000m.
The British runner Hannah England won the women’s mile race, clocking 4:31.49 to beat American Sarah Hall (4:31.50) and Kenya’s Sally Kipyego (4:32.30).
