CHICAGO — Reigning Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya defended his men's title and Russian Liliya Shobukhova made it back-to-back women's titles at the Chicago Marathon on a hot Sunday morning.
Wanjiru, 23, outraced Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede in the final mile for the victory in an official time of 2 hrs 6 mins 24 secs, 43 seconds off last year's course record, and 18 seconds ahead of 2010 London Marathon champion Kebede.
Feyisa Lelisa, the 20-year-old Ethiopian who became the youngest marathoner to break 2:06:00 in April at Rotterdam, was third in 2:08:10.
Shobukhova repeated as the women's winner in 2:20:25, breaking the Russian national marathon record owned by training partner Galina Bogomolova by 22 seconds and putting her 10th on the all-time marathon list.
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Shobukhova passed two-time Paris Marathon winner Atsede Baysa of Ethiopia with four miles remaining and pulling away to defeat Ethiopia's Askale Magarsa by 3:15 with Russian Maria Konovalova third, another nine seconds adrift.
Wanjiru, Kebede, 2009 Boston winner Deriba Merga of Ethipoia and Kenyan Laben Moiben, who would finish seventh, were pacing a pack at the midpoint of the men's race as runners began making strategy moves for the finishing miles.
Kenya's Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, the reigning Boston Marathon champion, fell back with eight miles remaining and settled for sixth in 2:09:28. Merga was done a mile later. By mile 20, the podium finishers were ahead to stay.
Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Kebede, 23, made his US debut on the relatively flat Chicago course and was 85 seconds off his personal best of 2:05:18 in a 2009 victory at Fukuoka.
Ethiopia's Vincent Kipruto was fifth in 2:09:08, 24 seconds behind Kenya's Wesley Korir and 3:55 off his career best.
An Ethiopian trio surged to the lead in the women's race with Shobukhova hanging behind the pace-setters early but staying within reach at all times.
Reigning Dubai Marathon champion Mamitu Daska and two-time Paris Marathon winner Astede Baysa pulled away at the halfway mark with Magarsa and Shobukhova fighting for third.
Baysa stretched her lead to 28 seconds over Shobukhova at 19 miles as Daska faded and Baysa began to tire at the 20-mile mark. Shobukhova passed her for the lead with just over four miles remaining and surged to the finish line.
London and Berlin Marathon champion Irina Mikitenko had the best entry time but the German faded early and settled for fifth in 2:26:40.
Japan's Naoko Sakamoto, expected to contend, was 29th in 2:44:47.
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(source:afp)
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