Irina Mikitenko has been forced to withdraw from the Olympic Games. Back and pelvic problems have brought the German marathoner, who in top form might have been a medal contender, to a halt. Her victory in the London Marathon in April against many of the top Beijing entrants had established her among the world elite. “I am very disappointed that I won’t be running the marathon at the Olympic Games,” said Mikitenko. “I only wanted to run if I was in the right kind of form and wasn’t going to go to Beijing as ‘tourist.’”
The 35-year-old had been hampered in training for several weeks. She hadn’t been able to do long tempo runs, which play a crucial role in marathon preparation. Ultimately Mikitenko ran out of time. She had no chance left to find form in time for the Olympics.
In contrast, the marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has said she intends to compete in the Olympic marathon in two weeks. “I’m racing unless my leg breaks down,” she said. Coming back from a stress fracture of her thigh, Radcliffe has been running for only two months, and her fitness is still suspect.
41-Year-Old Masai Wins Beach to Beacon
Edith Masai, age 41, won the overall title at a major American road race for the second week in a row. At the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, she ran 31:55 to turn back Lyudmila Biktasheva (Russia/32:03) and Yuri Kano (Japan/32:17). Masai won the Bix 7-Miler in Iowa the previous weekend.
The men’s Bix winner also prevailed at Beach to Beacon. Kenya’s Ed Muge outsprinted Ethiopia’s Maregu Zewdie in the last 50 meters to win by less than a second in 27:52. Kenya’s Kiplomo Kimutai, who had been the early aggressor in the race, also broke 28:00, running 27:58 for third.
Bekele and Dibaba Slated to Double in Beijing
The Ethiopians have decided on the final selection of their Olympic squad. It seems as if two of the superstars, Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, will each run the 5,000m in addition to the 10,000m. Initially both were named as replacements for the shorter distance. Bekele had in the meantime told the British media that he wanted to run the 5,000m as he had done in Athens. Four years ago he was second over the shorter distance.
