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Apr-15-2007
Despite Heat, Chelanga and Ominami Excel at Rotterdam Marathon
by Wim van Hemert with David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Just eight days after his 34th birthday, the Kenyan athlete won the 27th edition of the Fortis Rotterdam Marathon in 2:08:21 in very high temperatures of over 25°C (77°F). Due to the extreme heat and very sunny conditions, the organizers decided to stop the race after three and one-half hours to protect the runners against health problems.
Chelanga was the only athlete to break 2:10:00, remarkable because of the strength of the field assembled by race director Mario Kadiks (15 men had personal best times below 2:09:00). He was nearly two minutes ahead of runner-up Takayukuki Matsumiya of Japan who ran 2:10:04, breaking his personal best by sixteen seconds. William Kipsang of Kenya came home third in 2:11:04.
In the women's race Hiromi Ominami of Japan, one of the Ominami twins, notched a big victory in 2:26:37. Rotterdam was the race where she had set her personal best time of 2:23:26 back in 2003; she was seventh at Chicago last October in 2:26:04. Helena Kiprop Loshanyang of Kenya was second in
2:30:11 and Russian Alevtina Biktamirova third in 2:31:02.
In the beginning fast finish times seemed possible. A large group set off at a high pace (5 km 15:00, 10 km in 29:58), but then the heat began to take its toll, especially in the southern part of the city, where there is very little shade or cooling breezes. The temperature, which was already 20°C
(68°F) at the start, rose very quickly to 25°C (77°F).
Before the start the intention was to reach the half way point in 63:30. The leading group consisted of fourteen runners: Chelanga, Matsumiya, Kipsang, Isaac Macharia, Patrick Ivuti, Ambesse Tolosa, Emmanuel Mutai, Charles Kibiwott, David Kipkorir, Solomon Bushedich, Jimmy Muindi, Francis Kiprop and Salim Kipsang passed the half way point in 63:54, nearly half a minute above the planned time.
After passing the Erasmus bridge again to the northern part of the city the group broke apart. At the 30-K point (1:30:29) three were leading the dance:
Chelanga, Matsumiya and Bushendich with Ivuti and Mutai about ten seconds back.
In the Kralingse Bos (Kralingen Wood) around 32-K Chelanga made his move.
He reached 35-K in 1:45:43 dropping his opponents. Matsumiya had lost 18 seconds, while Ivuti (1:46:32) and Bushendich (1:46:45) had lost much more.
Chelanga, who was a late entrant, made a very strong impression and was cheered by the short-sleeved spectators.
"I felt I was in a very good shape and therefore I was running always in front," he said after the race. "At 32 kilometers I decied to make my move.
Nobody could follow. Under less hot conditions I think I could have run in the 2:06 range."
Matsumiya, the world record holder for 30-K, was very happy with his personal best. "I was feeling well and wanted to stay in the leading group.
I did succeed. It was a very difficult marathon but I am very happy."
William Kipsang, who won the 2003 Amsterdam marathon in personal best of 2:06:39, was disappointed. "It was very heavy," he said of the weather. "I had stomach problems and could not keep up with the leaders. Around 37 kilometers the problems were over and I could come back."
Ominami, 31, was delighted with her victory. "First, I have to thank my pacemakers," she said. "They did a wonderful job. I got my water always and the spectators were magnificent. They were always encouraging me. Next year I will come back with my twin sister Takami, who won here in 2002."
Luc Krotwaar who finished tenth in 2:15:25 captured his seventh Dutch marathon title. Nadja Wijenberg, 43, finished sixth in the womens race and won the Dutch title in 2:37:25.
Top Results:
MEN -
1. Joshua Chelanga (Ken) 2:08:21
(15:01-29:58- 45:14-1:00:33-1:03:53-1:15:38-1:30:29-1:45:43-2:01:26)
2. Takayuki Matsumiya (Jpn) 2:10:04 PB
3. William Kipsang (Ken) 2:11:04
4. Isaac Macharia (Ken) 2:12:06
5. Patrick Ivuti (Ken) 2:12:24
6. Ambesse Tolosa (Eth) 2:12:39
7. Emmanuel Mutai (Ken) 2:13:06
8. Janne Holmen (Fin) 2:13:06
9. Charles Kibiwott (Ken) 2:15:12
10. Luc Krotwaar (Ned) 2:15:28 National Champion
WOMEN -
1. Hiromi Ominami (Jpn) 2:26:37
2. Helena Kiprop Loshanyang (Ken) 2:30:11
3. Alevtina Biktamirova (Rus) 2:31:02
4. Atsede Baysa (Eth) 2:33:54
5. Ana Dias (Por) 2:36:49
6. Nadja Wijenberg, 43, (Ned) 2:37:25 National Champion
7. Adanech Zekiros (Eth) 2:42:47
8. Martha Komu (Ken) 2:45:01
9. Wendy Jones (Gbr) 2:45:54
10. Florence Chepkurui (Ken) 2:47:18
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