Benita Johnson triumphs in Albany. © www.photorun.net
Six weeks after finishing a disappointing seventh in the London Marathon, Benita Johnson is back with a victory. The Australian, who had been one of the favorites in London but faded due to cramps, took the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, New York. Johnson won the 5K in 15:22, and missed the two-year-old course record of Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui by just four seconds. Just more than 3,100 women ran the race, which was a trendsetter for women’s races in the late 1970s.
During the 29th edition of the Freihofer’s Run for Women, a thrilling duel developed between Johnson and Leghzaoui. The Moroccan took the lead, but after three kilometers Johnson closed the gap. The Australian got away with only 400 meters to go, but had so much energy left that she was still able to finish ten seconds ahead of Leghzaoui (15:32). Teyba Erkesso (Ethiopia) took third place in 15:46. Johnson and Leghzaoui intend to run the 10,000m at the World Championships in Osaka in August.
Kenyan Victories at Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego
For a long time a new course record looked likely at the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. But once Daniel Yego had to run alone during the last 10 kilometers, the Kenyan lost the time he would have needed to better the 8-year-old mark of his countryman Philip Tarus (2:08:33). In the end, Yego finished in 2:09:04, which is still a fine time. He received $20,000 plus a car. Yego’s countrymen Christopher Cheboiboch (2:10:58) and Sylvester Chebii (2:12:00) took the next places.
The fastest woman in the field of 17,800 runners was Kenyan Hellen Kimutai, who ran 2:32:40. In the fight for the $20,000 and the car the Kenyan made it exciting because she got away from underdog Svetlana Pretot with only one kilometer to go. The French clocked 2:32:50 for second, ahead of Ethiopian Worknesh Tola (2:32:59).
Kigen Wins in Neuss, Mikitenko second
Moses Kigen won the 25th edition of the Midsummer Road Race, a 10K in Neuss, Germany. The Kenyan ran 28:50 and was just one second faster than Mushir Salem Jawher (Bahrain) in the end. John Rogat (Tanzania) was well behind in third, clocking 29:17.
Meanwhile, the start of Irina Mikitenko (Germany) in Neuss shows once more her priority for this year: road running. In Neuss Mikitenko, who will run her marathon debut in fall, finished second in the women’s 5K in 15:45. Ashu Kasim Rabu (Ethiopia) was three seconds faster, while Kenyan Anitha Jeptum took third place in 15:56.
Chicago Reaches Capacity, Just 7,000 Bibs Left for Berlin
Top international marathons remain extremely popular, as evidenced by this spring’s numbers. The Boston Marathon in April had 20,348 finishers despite extremely bad weather conditions; that was the first time since the 100th anniversary in 1996 that more than 20,000 reached the finish line in Boston. At the London Marathon, 35,674 runners finished in very warm temperatures, the most in race history.
Looking to the fall, the Chicago Marathon, which will be held on October 7, is already closed for registrations, although the organizers had increased the capacity to 45,000. The Berlin Marathon already has 33,000 entries, meaning that only 7,000 bibs are left for the race on September 30. The race has become even more attractive internationally because of the World Marathon Majors, the elite series held among the Berlin, Boston, London, Chicago and New York marathons.
