It was 50 degrees F in Manhattan this morning, which is cool for spectators but as it gets warmer, might be uncomfortable for the marathoners.
At 10:25, the push-rim wheelchair race has started, this year including multi-year Boston champion Franz Nietlispach. We’ll update the progress of that race when we get chances, but will focus on the four running races: the men’s and women’s open races, and the men’s and women’s U.S. Championships.
It’s 53 degrees on Staten Island at 10:30.
They’re at the starting line in Staten Island. Mayor Giuliani has made the trip back from Phoenix between World Series games to lead the race in the pace car. The elites are on the line, and there are warmup shirts flying out of the crowd.
They’ve sung the national anthem and released a flock of doves. There’s a policeman singing “God Bless America,” and then they will start.
Margaret Okayo
Boom, they’re going. They’re going uphill for the first mile, up and over the crest of the bridge. The first two miles of the marathon are entirely on the bridge.
The crest of the bridge is the highest elevation in the race, and the leaders are beginning to descend into Brooklyn. The women will run a separate course through seven or eight miles. The downhill second mile is always fast relative to the uphill first, but we can’t be too sure who’s among the lead packs yet.
It appears that the leader through the first mile is Joe LeMay, number 23, in 4:49. As they come down the other side of the bridge, the pacemakers (Godfrey Kiprotich, Leonid Shvetsov, Joseph Kariuki and David Morris) are back in charge.
6:08 for the women’s first mile, with Joan Samuelson among the leaders. Samuelson is wearing number F44 — that representing her age. The men’s pack is sixteen strong, at least, as they run through Brooklyn.
Joseph Chebet, John Kagwe and Shem Kororia are visible behind the pacemakers in the men’s pack. Kiprotich ran 5:09 for the second mile (9:58). The men are spread wide across the road, but the women are running single file behind Sylvia Skvortsova, their pacemaker. Ludmila Petrova is right behind Skvortsova and Elana Meyer right behind her.
The U.S. Championship has now parted with the lead pack, running ten seconds slower than the leaders in the second mile. 14:50 for the men at three miles. Kariuki paced in Chicago as well. Scott Larson is leading the U.S. men.
There are four women in their lead, Skvortsova, Petrova, Margaret Okayo, and Madina Biktagirova. Elana Meyer has bridged up and joined that pack of four.
Susan Chepkemei is still in contact as well. The women are still single file. The chain of five in the front is followed immediately by a blob which includes a number of the U.S. women; Colleen De Reuck is with them, as is Deena Drossin.
At five miles the men were at 24:28 with the pacemakers (Kiprotich and Kariuki) still in the lead.
De Reuck is on one side of the women’s pack, with Drossin on the other side. The same five are in the front: Skvortsova leading, with Petrova, Okayo, Meyer, and Chepkemei in a line, then the pack. 27:55 through five miles for the women.
Six miles in 29:14 for the men. At five miles, the U.S. men were a solid minute back from the lead pack, according to the official splits. The leaders are a large pack moving at a good clip; Japhet Kosgei, Silvio Guerra, and Tesfaye Jifar are also among the crowd, nearly twenty strong. There are several potential winners in this crowd, brimming with potential energy.
34 minutes for seven miles for the men’s pack. The pacemakers are whipping the pack through Brooklyn like they get a bonus for early delivery in Manhattan. Eight miles in 38:52.
The women’s pack disintegrates a little at a water table, but Skvortsova is immediately back in the lead. It’s a much smaller pack than before, but Petrova is still right behind Skvortsova. Okayo still in third, but then Colleen De Reuck with Drossin right on her shoulder. There’s pretty heavy traffic, then another five or ten women including another American or two; Leonid Shvetsov, the lion who shepherded the whole women’s pack through the Bronx last year, has now dropped back to the back of the women’s pack and is “sweeping up,” making sure the men who have now merged with the women’s course don’t interfere with the race.
Jon Brown is among the pack of sixteen men, including the pacemakers Kiprotich and Kariuki. Faustin Baha is trailing the pack. Shem Kororia is right behind the pacemakers, almost looking antsy and ready to pop. Jon Brown looks grim — not strained, but very determined. He could probably drop some of this pack if they just looked at him.
The U.S. championships right now is led by De Reuck and Drossin, then Milena Glusac, Christine Clifton, and Joan Samuelson in that order. The men are Scott Larson, then Terrence Mahon, Keith Dowling, Teddy Mitchell and Eddy Hellebuyck.
48:25 for the men at ten miles. Still a pack of sixteen plus, still sprawled comfortably across the road. The pacemakers are in charge, but now Silvio Guerra has moved to the front to push things a little. Kenneth Cheruiyot is right behind him; Chebet and Kororia are shadowing Kariuki and Kiprotich. This pack is going to explode on First Avenue. 53:23 for mile eleven. The women passed eight miles in 44:37, then 50:11 for nine miles.
Kariuki is leading the men’s pack with the Fila Kenyans, Chebet, Kosgei, Cheruiyot and Kororia right behind. John Kagwe and Rodgers Rop are also in there, along with Paul Kipsambu, Julius Kimtai, Guerra and Brown. We’re told they ran 58:09 for twelve miles. They’ve passed the halfway mark on the Pulaski Bridge. As usual, Kagwe is completely unreadable behind his shades, but he looks like he’s holding back a smile. One newspaper reporter called him “the Silent Assassin.”
At ten miles 55:33 for the women, their fastest mile yet in 5:22; then at eleven miles 1:01:17. Shvetsov is policing the pack aggressively, but it’s getting difficult to distinguish how many women are in this pack. Skvortsova is still leading with Petrova right behind. Chepkemei, De Reuck, Drossin, and others are still visible in the crowd.
It’s a mostly Kenyan pack, but we can find some others — an Ethiopian (Jifar), an Ecuadorian (Guerra), and Jon Brown, just outside the medals in Sydney for Great Britain. Halfway was passed in 1:03:14, blazing for New York where the course record is just on the slow side of 2:08.
Skvrortsova is off the course and Petrova is leading the women’s race, with Okayo and Biktagirova her closest competition. 1:12:30 for halfway.
Saul Mendoza won the push-rim division of the wheelchair race.
The men are on the Queensboro Bridge, making their way over to First Avenue. It’s going to get very loud on First Avenue when this pack gets there.
At ten miles 55:33 for the women, their fastest mile yet in 5:22; then at eleven miles 1:01:17. Shvetsov is policing the pack aggressively, but it’s getting difficult to distinguish how many women are in this pack. Skvortsova is still leading with Petrova right behind. Chepkemei, De Reuck, Drossin, and others are still visible in the crowd.
It’s a mostly Kenyan pack, but we can find some others — an Ethiopian (Jifar), an Ecuadorian (Guerra), and Jon Brown, just outside the medals in Sydney for Great Britain. Halfway was passed in 1:03:14, blazing for New York where the course record is just on the slow side of 2:08.
Skvrortsova is off the course and Petrova is leading the women’s race, with Okayo and Biktagirova her closest competition. 1:12:30 for halfway.
Saul Mendoza won the push-rim division of the wheelchair race.
The men are on the Queensboro Bridge, making their way over to First Avenue. It’s going to get very loud on First Avenue when this pack gets there.
The women’s lead pack has started dropping runners. Florence Barsosio, Elana Meyer and Colleen De Reuck have all dropped off the lead pack.
The men are on First Avenue, a pack of ten led by Kosgei and Guerra, and including Chebet, Jifar, Kagwe, Philip Tarus, Rop, and others. The race is really on now, the ten have strung out behind Rop and Jifar, now a pack of four including Chebet and Kosgei. Margaret Okayo has broken away from the women’s race over the Queensboro Bridge; she’s stripped off her gloves and opened a lead of twenty or thirty minutes.
Scott Larson is leading the American championships on First Avenue.
Jifar, Rop, Chebet and Kosgei have broken away on First Avenue with a big lift in pace. Jifar is forcing the pace too, triggering a surge from Kosgei. Chebet is falling off the back. They’ve definitely dropped Chebet. It’s Kosgei pulling, trying to drop Jifar and Rop. Rop will be the next off the back, he looks pained. Scott Larson is only about two minutes off the lead on First Avenue. He’s got another two minutes on Terrence Mahon. Perhaps we spoke too soon; Kosgei has let up on the throttle and Rop moves up to run with him as Jifar shadows them.
Margaret Okayo ran 5:13 for the mile between 14 and 15; they’re at 1:23:14 at 15 miles. Okayo has now passed BOTH De Reucks, catching Colleen’s husband Darren on First Avenue.
Petrova is running second for the women, the pack completely dissolved. Chepkemei is still in third. Okayo’s lead is up to half a minute. Deena Drossin is slowly climbing up through the ranks, passing one after another.
The men’s pack is Kosgei, Rop and Jifar, with Kosgei pulling at the front and Rop and Jifar taking turns keeping him honest. They’re moving into the Bronx now.
In the Bronx the men are cranking again. Kosgei is still in control, but Rop looks like a contender again and Jifar is the one looking strained. Coming back into Manhattan it’s Rop leading with Kosgei and Jifar trailing. Scott Larson is still leading the U.S. men, running alone. Kosgei, Jifar and Rop made twenty miles in 1:36:51. Rop is the fastest ten miler of the year and a world record holder at 25-K, but Jifar just gave thumbs-up to someone in the crowd. Now he’s waving! Jifar’s vision is less than perfect, and he prefers to hang back and see where people are rather than be taken by surprise. The pace has slowed back down.
Okayo’s lead is up to about 45 seconds. Her last split was 1:39:02 for 18 miles. 1:44:19 at nineteen.
Jifar and Kosgei are forcing the pace again, and it looks like Rop is losing contact. 1:41:43 for this pack at 21 miles, with the next pack nearly a minute and a half behind. Kosgei is leading with Jifar shadowing, so if Kosgei decides not to keep the pressure on, Rop may be back. He looks pretty pained, though. Now Jifar is surging, his first real move. Kosgei responded strongly, but then swerved to the water table and didn’t carry through the pass. Now Jifar is going again, and this time he’s opening a real gap on Kosgei. This could be the real winner.
Deena Drossin is leading the U.S. women’s race after twenty-one miles. She’s moved up well in the overall field, but not into the top three. Okayo is back into Manhattan, with almost a minute’s lead. She looks like she’s slowing down as she loops around Marcus Garvey Park, but everyone else is slowing down too. The pursuit of Okayo is led by Joyce Chepchumba; Drossin is back in seventh, but moving into sixth.
1:51:31 for 23 miles for the men, and now they’ve moved into the park. Jifar is firmly in control, looking back over his shoulder to see where the pursuit is. It’s about twenty seconds back. He looks pained in his face, but it’s not showing in his legs. Now he’s grinning at the camera. He’s got less than two miles to go now, and now the pained look vanishes for a second as he grins at the camera.
Jifar is on pace to lop a few seconds off Juma Ikangaa’s 2:08:01 record, which has stood fifteen years. He’s on Central Park South now, within a mile of home. 2:00:45 for forty kilometers, 2:01:30 for 25 miles. Kosgei is not in sight; Jifar would need to walk to lose. He’s looping around the corner in Columbus Circle and turning into Central Park. His lead is fifty seconds. He’s on Park Drive and he’s running for time now. Tesfaye Jifar has won the New York City Marathon in 2:07:43, a new course record.
Kosgei is coming in now for second in 2:09:19, unofficially. Kosgei looks disappointed. Here comes Rop, 2:09:51 unofficially. Hendrick Ramaala and Jon Brown fourth and fifth.
In thirteenth place, Scott Larson is on Central Park South. He’s been passing people for the last several miles, moving up five places; except for those he’s passing, he’s been alone for over an hour. He’s coming into the park now. Scott Larson will be the first U.S. Champion crowned in New York. He’s running PR pace. He’s started to smile. 2:15:25 unofficially for Scott Larson.
Deena Drossin is in Central Park now.
Deena Drossin is in Central Park now. Margaret Okayo is well out in the lead, over a minute in front. She’s almost out to make the turn to Central Park South. They passed 24 miles in 2:12:04, but she’s passed 25 now in 27 minutes and change. Okayo has passed Joe LeMay. She’s also caught one of the Hansen’s runners on Central Park South. She’s on pace to damage the course record, but not by too much. She’s turned off Central Park South, through Columbus Circle, and back into the park. She’s going to win. Margaret Okayo has won the New York City Marathon in 2:24:21 unofficially, a nice chip of Lisa Ondieki’s record.
Svetlana Zakharova is making a strong move coming into the park, with Susan Chepkemei just passed. Chepkemei charges back at the line. She’s lost her breakfast, plus anything else she took in on the course. Chepkemei second, Zakharova third. Joyce Chepchumba and Esther Kiplagat fourth and fifth.
It’s a very close and busy women’s finish. Deena Drossin is in seventh. 2:26:57 unofficially for Drossin, not quite what she was hoping for but an excellent debut. It’s the fastest American time here by nearly a minute (2:27:54 was the previous fastest, by Kim Jones.)
A special thanx to the New York City Marathon for the live report
Mile Leader Time
1 M J. LeMay 4:49
F J. Samuelson 6:08
2 M G. Kiprotich 9:58
F S. Skvortsova 11:32
3.1 M G. Kiprotich 15:21
F S. Skvortsova –
4 Kiprotich 19:57
Skvortsova 22:28
5 Kiprotich 24:28
Skvortsova 27:55
6 Kiprotich 29:14
Skvortsova 33:25
7 Kiprotich 34:00
Skvortsova 38:59
8 Kiprotich 38:52
Skvortsova 44:37
9 Kiprotich 43:42
Skvortsova 50:11
10 Kariuki 48:25
Skvortsova 55:33
11 Kiprotich 53:23
Skvortsova 1:01:17
12 M S. Guerra 58:09
Skvortsova 1:05:43
13 M – –
F – –
13.1 Kariuki 1:03:14
Skvortsova 1:13:09
14 Kariuki 1:08:07
F M. Okayo 1:18:01
15 Kosgei 1:13:02
F Okayo 1:23:14
16 Kosgei 1:18:09
F Okayo 1:28:50
17 Kosgei 1:22:58
F Okayo 1:33:51
18 Kosgei 1:27:31
F Okayo 1:39:02
19 Kosgei 1:32:02
F Okayo 1:44:19
20 Kosgei 1:36:51
F Okayo 1:49:44
21 Kosgei 1:41:43
F Okayo 1:55:12
22 Kosgei 1:46:41
F Okayo 2:00:39
23 M T. Jifar 1:51:32
F Okayo 2:06:14
24 M Jifar 1:56:33
F Okayo 2:12:04
25 M Jifar 2:01:30
F Okayo 2:17:38
26 M Jifar 2:06:35
F Okayo 2;23:11
FIN M Jifar 2:07:43
F Okayo 2:24:21
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