|
Welcome to The Paris Marathon 2003 coverage |
Nearly 30 000 runners braced the bitter early April unseasonal
morning cold weather to line up for 2003 Paris marathon. The
cold also made that there were fewer habitual supporters lining
the route for a major city marathon, preferring to watch the
race in bed on television.
However, the cold did not seem to deter the top men's field
of runners who destroyed the previously held records for this
course. It was an exciting race with the Kenyan Mike Rotich
finishing in 2:06:32 just pipping the French star Benoit Zwierzchiewski
who finished second in 2:06:36. The latter who is better known
in France as Benoit Z and is famous for sporting tattoes,
appeared at the start true to form with a new tattoo to show
off to the crowds.
He stated before the race that he was confident that there
were at least 5 000 women runners running the Paris marathon
just to see him.
The third and fourth positions also created much excitement
as the second Frenchman Driss El Himmer 2:06:48 was just beaten
and took fourth place by one second behind another Kenyan
Wilson Onsare 2:06:47.
In the women's race the field was less spectacular. For
the first time since the history of the race the women started
17 minutes ahead of the men. This did not appear to be a good
idea as many of the women ended up running a lone route as
the field was very dispersed. The race was won by the Kenyan
Béatrice Omwanza in 2:27:44.
At the back of the pack it sure must have been a long day
for some brave competitors who were still cross the 12km mark
two hours after the start of the race.
from, on the spot, Time-to-Run
Women's Editor Cassandra Davis
For further | Race
Report |
|
