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Paris, France - 2003.. What a race.. down to the line
.. The Paris Marathon provided a simply superb race with Mike
Rotich of Kenya [with a previous best - 2:08.'59] thrusting
himself into the league of the World's Best with a winning
time of 2:06.32.
It did not stop there though, with the next 3 athletes re-arranging
the world all-time best list by going sub 2Hr 07, and the
next 4 athletes clocking sub 2hr 09. Paris is not known as
a fast course and it is not recognised as THE Big City marathon,
however it has always provided the numbers. And this year
they provided the quality. It was simply breathtaking to watch
a race where so many countless surges were thrown in at intermittent
periods.
What follows is the race report as it took place : we pick
up the race from 20K ..
Benoit Zwierzchiewski must be the most tattooed marathoner
around, more fitting to a Goth Night Club than being amongst
the elite runners of the Paris Marathon. And Benoit Z is the
defending champion so he has the pedigree, in the lead pack
consisting of 8 Kenyans are the two French hopes Benoit Z
and Driss El Himer, who is the National Record Holder with
2:07.01 from Amsterdam in 2001.
The pace provided is constant and fast , with the front pack
passing through halfway [ 21.1K ] in 62:46, which is below
the World Record of 2Hr 05min 38 seconds held by Khalid Khannouchi
of America.
In the pack the Kenyan contingent is made up of Mike Rotich
[PB 2:08.59], Wilson Onsare who has a PB of 61:35 for 21K,
Philip Tarus [PB 2:08.32], David Kirui [PB 2:09.40].
With the pacesetters providing a well-varnished tempo, El
Himer is content to place himself in a position reserved for
the label 'stalker', whereas Benoit Z likes to keep himself
handy, just off the pace provided.
With the 1st 5K passed in 15:02, 10k in 29:57 and 15K 45:08
, the pace accellerated to the 21K to be on target for a fast
time. However, this tempo was to drop again and on one occasion
El Himer went to the front unexpectantly. They were no longer
on WR pace and as the lead male  pack
began to approach the lead elite women, Rotich hit the front
with a big surge.
This was 1:27.02 into the race that they passed the women,
and the speed with which the men were moving gave the impression
the women were standing still, such was the ferocity of the
surge. Shortly thereafter, they passed through 30K in 1:29.47
and the pack had now been trimmed down to 6 athletes, 2 French
and 4 Kenyans.
As they passed under a banner, there was evidence of wind
as the banners fluttered in the breeze. Rotich again applied
pressure with a surge and Benoit Z went off the back, but
it looks more that he is maintaining one pace, rather than
attempting to cover the surge immediately. He soon finds himself
back in the front - a lesson to any would be marathon racer
... surges can deal severe body blows late in a race, especially
if it is of a fast/slow fast/slow nature. Do note, if
a surge is delivered very late into the race, you have no
other choice but to follow.
Benoit Z begins upping the tempo, then suddenly Rotich surges
again, earlier he had been showing the strains of the previous
surge. Cagey tactics are evident as BZ slides to the back
of the pack again, content to maintain one pace again.
When the surge settles BZ is back in front making sure that
the pace remains true, thus ensuring that those who covered
the surge immediately are unable to settle and recover. [
BZ has a slight grimace etched on his face as he applies
the pressure, some would be foolhardy enough to think it is
a smile ]
Rotich is doing the donkey work [ maintaining the pace ]
and again he throws in a surge, pain etched across his face.
He is working hard to apply the pressure on the rest. Then
Driss El Himer counter surges, this is for real, he
opens up a 10m gap effortlessly, to pass through 35K in 1:44.45.
BZ is yet again at the back, taking in fluids on this occasion.
The 3 Kenyans are running shoulder to shoulder in an attempt
to bridge the gap. The pack is reduced to 5 after that surge.
The 4 regroup, with BZ biding his time before joining the
front 4. El Himer again applies pressure. This will be wasted
if he is unable to maintain in the final 2Km.
By 36K, they are together [ 5 athletes ]. BZ is back in front.
However, El Himer does not look the worse for wear after his
surge ... that must have been a test ?? .. A similar
surge with 2K to go, could deliver victory.
BZ is running an amazing tactical race, and one can only
wonder why he made such tactical blunders at the European
Marathon Championships in Munich 2002. His consistent
pace keeps the
race honest.
For the first time BZ tests the other athletes, just after
37K. But, it is more a drive towards the finish, more the
continual applying of pressure to achieve an end goal, somewhat
different to the surges previously seen. El Himer looks very
healthy and relaxed, and with a PB of 2Hr07, he is in familiar
territory at this pace. BZ's pressure has reduced the lead
group to 4.
BZ and Sammy Kipketer, of the track circuit, must have
the same dentist, as they both seem to show their teeth when
running at their best.
Yet again, Rotich provides the tester and yet again BZ is
forced to fight to keep in touch. He slips 3 - 4m off the
back, this could be fatal for the French athlete as Rotich
maintains the pace.
The other Frenchman, El Himer, drops 1 - 2m off the front
and Rotich is out on his own. BZ digs deep to haul in the
2nd Kenyan, to move into 3rd. Rotich has definitely made his
run for the finish, there is no going back now. He has played
his hand, and it looks pretty decisive.
40K comes up in 1:59.56, a course record is on. El Himer
is fighting to cover, however the person who looks to be moving
the quickest is BZ. El Himer no longer looks the smooth moving
athlete of 5K's ago, and it is at the most important time
of the race that he seems to have lost his edge.
Rotich, on the otherhand, is looking smooth and he may be
able to maintain this for a certain victory.
In an instance BZ loses his rhythym, his race is run, however
a PB is on. 41K and these athletes are all on target for sub
2:07.
El Himer is battling to refind his tempo, but is unbelievably
passed by BZ. Driss fights to cover. It is now a fight for
France's National Record and less not forget, 2nd place. This
amazing fight is drawing them ever nearer to Rotich, who looks
to have the race sewn up.
BZ powers forward again and the invisible band is finally
broken as Benoit jetisons away from his compatriot, with the
momentum carrying him to within striking distance of Rotich.
The Kenyan is safe, and fast times are the order of the day.
Benoit is sprinting and every meter taken draws him ever
closer to 1st place, however Rotich is a deserved winner in
a new Course Record of 2:06.32 , with the 1st 4 all under
2:07 and the next four sub 2Hr 09. What a race and what a
result.
Incredibly, this is a double for Rotich as he won the Half
marathon run on the 09th March 2003, in 61:30.
In the Women's section Rosario Console is denied victory
over the final 300m, as Beatrice Omwanza of Kenya powers past
her with the finish line in the Italian's sight.
Omwanza goes away to record a victory of 2:27.41, with the
Italian a further 5 seconds in arrears, however with the satisafaction
of a PB in 2nd place.
Results 1st 10 Men and Women
Men
1. Mike Rotich (Ken) 2 hours 6 minutes 32 seconds
2. Benoit Zwierzchlewski (Fra) 2:06:36
3. Wilson Onsare (Ken) 2:06:47
4. Driss El Himer (Fra) 2:06:48
5. David Ruto (Ken) 2:08:21
6. Haron Toroitich (Ken) 2:08:34
7. David Kirui (Ken) 2:08:53
8. Zebedayo Bayo (Tan) 2:08:54
9. David Kosgei (Ken) 2:11:33
10. Wilson Musto (Ken) 2:12:04
Women
1. Beatrice Omwanza (Ken) 2:27:44
2. Rosaria Console (Ita) 2:27:48
3. Banuela Mrashani (Tan) 2:29:13
4. Hafida Gadi Richard (Fra) 2:30:38
5. Rakiya Quetier Maraoui (Fra) 2:31:35
6. Mary Ptikany (Ken) 2:32:04
7. Giovanna Volpato (Ita) 2:33:23
8. Zaia Dahmani (Fra) 2:34:31
9. Fatima Yvelain (Fra) 2:35:03
10. Fatima Hajjami (Fra) 2:37:20
source Time-to-Run
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