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This event was a fitting finale to the end of the Athen's
2004 Olympics. It had everything, from raw determination to
the unexpected.
The race itself got off under warm skies and progressed as
expected, with nothing much in the way of excitement taking
place in the form of breaks early on. The first break worthy
of comment was from Hendrik Ramaala of South Africa, who went
to the front with no one in the main pack showing scant interest.
That was until team mate, Ian Syster, inexplicably decided
to give chase.
Early Splits: 5km in 15:57 .. 10K in 31:54 .. 15K in 48:15
The race as it happened:
Syster's pulling the pack towards compatriot, Ramaala, why?
Not 5K later he stops on the side of the course.
Jaouad Gharib the Paris
World Champs marathon in 2003, is now doing most of the
donkey work to close the gap on Vanderlei de Lima. The Brazilian
escaped once the pack closed in and engulfed Ramaala.
At the halfway point in the race - 1:07:23, De Lima leads
the pack by 14 seconds. This gap continues to grow in small
margins and when it comes to pursuers to close the gap it
is proving to be more difficult to bridge than that of the
South African. Tergat, imo, doesn't look magnificent and him
spitting is not a good sign. [slightly thick white spittle
often indicatesJust as in the Women's
race of last week, these conditions are not suitable to
run a marathon.
both Ndereba and Okayo.
15K passed in 52:11, a 17:46
Distance 5km 10km 15km 20km Half 25km 30km 35km 40km
Bib 2538 1234 2433 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 2157
Split Time 15:57 31:54 48:15 1:03:54 1:07:23 1:19:33 1:35:03
1:50:09 2:04:49
60 minutes passes and Radcliffe is still at the head
of the field. Water stations are being well utilised today
and hopefully conditions will begin to cool for the women
as they approach halfway in this race.
63 minutes into the race and Ndereba is stalking at
the back of the pack, which still consists of the 3 Japanese
runners, Mizuki Noguchi, Reiko Tosa and Naoko Sakamoto, who
have one of the most stringent selection policies in the marathon
world, however it seems to be showing its strength. The 2
Romanians, Constantina Tomescu and Nuta Olaru play the sitting
role.
72 minutes into the race and it is Noguchi who is
applying pressure on the incline and it is the 2 Kenyans who
are the first to falter, Radcliffe noticing this lapse is
quick to maintain the pressure so that there is no easy ride
for those sitting in the bus. Ndereba begins to claw her way
back, with Okayo losing 30 meters.
Halfway passed in 74:03
Ndereba is back in the pack and she is a well seasoned runner,
who has loads of experience and her strength is downhill and
that is still to come. Okayo is still trying to get back into
the pack.
79 minutes into the race and Alemu applies the pressure,
and Tomescu is the first to feel the pressure as she drops
off the pack sliding behind Okyao, who has lost further touch
with the group. Radcliffe again goes to the front to assure
that the pace still troubles her rivals. Ndereba still lurks
at the rear, this time not allowing herself to lose contact.
84 minutes into the race and both Romanian athletes
are now out of the pack, with Okayo no longer within striking
distance of the leaders.
88 minutes into the race and Okayo, IMO, is no longer
a threat on the leaders as 25Km passes in 1:28:05 with Noguchi
the leader and the Kenyan 28 seconds in arrears. If Okayo
comes back from this, then she is Superwoman is disguise,
without the cape.
91 minutes into the race and Noguchi applies the pressure,
taking Alemu with her and Radcliffe slides off the front,
this is a vicious attack and the pack is broken, except for
the Ethiopian.
99 minutes into the race and Noguchi is gone, however
Ndereba is working from 3rd spot to catch Noguchi and with
the downhill still to come, this may still be 'Catherine the
Great' 's race. The gap is 15 seconds back to Alemu.
1Hr 45:02 - 30K into the race and the tiny Japanese
athlete is stretching her legs on the downhill. Radcliffe
has moved past Ndereba and has Alemu in her sights, as she
tries to get back to the front. This race is not yet over.
Inexplicably the lead vehicle with photographers slows the
tiny Japanese athlete down. This is a crime, a diabolical
disgrace.
1Hr 50 into the race and Radcliffe has moved into
2nd place, having to work hard to close the gap on the lone
front runner from the 'land of the rising sun'. Ndereba cruises
onto the back of the Brit's pace on the downhill then passing
Radcliffe with ease.
1Hr 54 into the race and the one doing the chasing
now is the Kenyan.
1Hr 57 into the race and the gap is 30 seconds to
Ndereba and further 14 seconds to Radcliffe, who is fighting
to get back on terms. Unfortunately, imo, the course will
suit Ndereba more now, if Radcliffe can win it from here,
it will be an awesome performance.
35K in 2:02:04 with Ndereba in 2:02:32 and Radcliffe
in 2:03:04
Radcliffe is out at the 36Km .. the best she can do
is come back and win the 10 000m.
2Hr11 into the race with downhill to come and Ndereba
is closing, it is only 14 seconds now
2Hr15 this is now Ndereba's race, should she take
this, she will place herself amongst the greats of the distance.
Noguchi is faltering on the downhill.
39K and that may have been Ndereba's last chance as
the course climbs slightly now and this should favour the
Japanese athlete, it may be too late for Catherine.
2Hr 18 into the race and Noguchi is fighting to take
the Gold home for Japan, this has been a great fight by the
tiny athlete, she has given it her all and passing through
40K in 2Hr19 she still maintains the same gap of 14 seconds.
2Hr 20 into the race and it is the USA's Deena Kastor
who is making a late charge for a top 3 finish. 2Hr 23
Kastor is within striking distance of Bronze and should realise
her dream. Alemu can't respond as the American is flying.
Noguchi wins in 2:26:20 with Ndereba 2nd and Kastor an ecstatic
3rd.
See the the race in images :
The Men's Marathon in images
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