Sammy Wanjiru tore through his debut marathon in Fukuoka. © www.photorun.net

Sammy Wanjiru ran a world-class debut for the marathon in Fukuoka. The Kenyan won the historic Japanese race in a course record of 2:06:39, which was also the third fastest marathon debut of all time. Only his compatriot Evans Rutto (2:05:50) and Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie (2:06:35) have run faster in their first attempt. (Technically, Gebrselassie had already run a marathon as a teenager.) Wanjiru improved the course record of the Japanese Atsushi Fujita, which had stood for seven years, by 12 seconds.

Wanjiru, only recently turned 21, whose 58:33 had already broken Gebrselasie’s half marathon world record earlier this year, achieved the third fastest time of the year in Fukuoka. The Kenyan’s plans for 2008 are already set - he would like to run his next marathon in April, possibly in London, and achieve a time of 2:05. Wanjiru thinks this would be enough to qualify for the Olympic Marathon in Beijing, which would set up a clash with Gebrselassie.

Wanjiru originally wanted to make his marathon debut in New York, but had to scratch because of knee problems. Four weeks later he was in top form. Wanjiru, who spends most of his time in Japan, ran the first half in 63:30 as part of a big leading group. After 30K the young Kenyan put in a series of surges that dropped his rivals one by one, with Deriba Merga being the last to lose contact. He fell off with 2 kilometers to go and finished second in 2:06:50.

Third and leading Japanese was Atsushi Sato in a personal best of 2:07:13, which will almost certainly guarantee him a place at the Olympics. The races in Tokyo and Lake Biwa in February and March are further qualifying races for the Japanese.

Pacemaker Snatches Victory in Singapore

Would-be pacemaker Elijah Mbogo went the distance for the win in Singapore. © Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

You should only trust a pacemaker if you know him really well. That’s because many don’t drop out of the race at the pre-arranged marker, but simply keep on running because they sense a chance of winning. Exactly that happened at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on Sunday, where Elijah Mbogo, just 19, was both pacemaker and, ultimately, winner. He won by a mere 2 seconds in a course record of 2:14:23 over his compatriot Amos Matui, the race winner the past two years. Third was another Kenyan, David Cheruiyot, in 2:14:43.

In the women’s race, the course record of Salina Kosgei (Kenya), who won last year in 2:31:55, was always beyond reach. Instead, the race developed into a duel between the 40-year-old Edith Masai (Kenya), a multiple winner of the world cross country title, and the young Ethiopian Alem Ashebier. Seven kilometers from the finish, Ashebier increased the pace and dropped Masai. The Ethiopian achieved a clear victory in 2:37:08 ahead of the Kenyan (2:38:07), earning prize money worth $25,000. Third was Caroline Kwambai (Kenya) in 2:38:46. Despite tough conditions in Singapore, with the temperature at 80 degrees for the 5:30 a.m. start and humidity on the rise, Ashebier improved her personal best by around two minutes. Around 40,000 participants entered the three competitions (marathon, half marathon and 10K) in Singapore.

Up to 30K, Mbogo led as a pacemaker. “I had thought about this beforehand, that this time I would run on if I felt good at this point,” the 19-year-old said later. “At 30K I had the feeling that the runners around me wouldn’t be so strong, so I gave it a try. It was interesting and I’ve achieved a win the first time I’ve attempted a marathon.” Mbogo explained that he knew Matui had a strong finish. “That’s why my plan was to build a clear lead early on.” Around 35K Mbogo put in a surge and doubled his lead at 40K to 200 metres. This was the signal for Mutai, the previous course record holder, to launch his final effort, but he couldn’t quite close the gap.

Two months ago, Mbogo brought his personal bests down to 28:24 (10K) and 61:40 (half marathon) in races in Europe. After that the brother of the Hanover Marathon champion David Mbogo (2:14:13) returned to Kenya and prepared for Singapore at a high-altitude training camp.

Another Kenyan Debutant Wins in Milan

It was a marathon weekend of debutants and Kenyans. After Sammy Wanjiru in Fukuoka and Elijah Mbogo in Singapore, 25-year-old Evans Cheruiyot won the Milan Marathon in his debut in a speedy 2:09:15. Finishing next in the field of almost 6,000 were his compatriot John Birgen (2:09:20) and the South African Norman Mblomo (2:10:39). The women’s race also went to a Kenyan, Pamela Chepchumba, who ran 2:25:36.

In the men’s race, the London and New York Marathon winner Martin Lel (Kenya) was among the pacemakers leading the 7-strong leading group to halfway in 64:24. Then one runner after another lost contact with the leaders until the competition developed into a duel between Cheruiyot and Birgen. The decisive moment came at 39K when Cheruiyot, whose 59:05 makes him one of the fastest half marathoners of all time, went clear. “I must thank Martin Lel who gave me good advice for my debut,” said the winner. Both men are members of the training group run by the Italian manager Federico Rosa. Charles Kamathi did not make the strong debut for which he’d hoped. The Kenyan, 10,000m world champion in 2001, was fourth in 2:11:25 after he lost touch with the leaders at 30K.

The women’s race developed into a one-woman show, with Chepchumba eventually building a 1.5-mile lead over the opposition. The next places went to the Italian Marcella Mancini (2:34:58) and Petra Teveli of Hungary (2:35:21).

Haile Gebrselassie Comes Back Breaking Records

Little more than two months after breaking the world marathon record, Haile Gebrselassie returned to the roads in style. The 34-year-old superstar took the 15K race in Heerenberg, Netherlands in 42:36, breaking the course record of none other than Kenenisa Bekele, who became Gebrselasie’s successor as the Olympic 10,000m champion and world record holder, by 6 seconds.

In heavy rain and winds, Gebrselassie broke away from his fiercest rival, Ali Mabrouk el Zaidi, little more than one kilometer from the finish. The runner from Libya finished second in a national record of 42:42. Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang took third with 43:30. There was an Ethiopian winner in the women’s race as well: Deribe Alemu clocked 48:50. Amelework Fikadu (Ethiopia/50:16) and Peninah Arusei (Kenya/50:26) took the next two places.