Grigoryeva Wins Banco Popular Challenge at Los Angeles Marathon
Cherono Men's Champion; Course Records Set

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By Ryan Lamppa
Posted Monday, 20 March, 2006

LOS ANGELES - (March 19, 2006) - At the 21st City of Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia hammered the last mile to pull away from Ethiopia's Gete Wami to the win the women's race and at the same time she held off men's winner Benson Cherono to capture the $100,000 Banco Popular Challenge for the first person across the finish line. Grigoryeva, 32, broke the course record by over 1 minute with her 2 hour, 25 minute, 10 second performance, while Cherono, 21, also set the men's course record with his 2:08:40. Both times were also California state and personal records.

Under sunny skies and 50 degree temperatures, the professional women - who started 16 minutes and 46 seconds ahead of the men (Challenge differential based on the course records) - immediately went into a pack fronted by defending champion Lyubov Denisova. By 20 miles, the women's race was down to three - Denisova, Grigoryeva and Wami as they rattled off miles 5:30 to 5:40 miles.

In the men's race, the large pack ran 5:00 minute miles or faster to consistently reduce the women's Challenge lead before Cherono pulled away at 19 miles to give solo chase to the women.

By mile 24, Cherono, the 2005 Beijing Marathon winner, ran another sub-5 minute mile to whittle the women's lead down to 1 minute, 55 seconds and he was on pace to pass the women during mile 26. Grigoryeva and Wami who dropped Denisova during the 24th mile, however, had other ideas as they worked together to get further away from Cherono. With a 5:17 final mile, Grigoryeva, the 2005 Paris Marathon Champion, pulled away from Wami for her biggest victory with Cherono 16 seconds back.

After the race, the happy Grigoryeva who earned $155,000 ($100,000 Banco Popular Challenge + $35,000 Open win + $20,000 time bonus) and a Honda Accord EX V-6 said that her main purpose was "to win the women's race."

Top Americans were Carlos Carballo, Cathedral City, Calif. and Chris Lundy of Sausalito, Calif. in 2:19:13 and 2:43:14, respectively. South Africa's Ernst Van Dyk won the men's wheelchair race in a course record, 1:24:48, while Shirley Reilly of Tucson earned the women's wheelchair title in 1:55:23.

Race director Dr. William Burke said, "This was the largest LA Marathon in our 21 year history [25,256 entrants]. It was also the best conditions that we have ever had as evidenced by the course records shattered."

21st City of Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 19, 2006

MEN
1) Benson Cherono, Kenya, 2:08:40*, $60,000 plus a Honda Accord EX V-6
2) Laban Kipkemboi, Kenya, 2:10:08, $25,000
3) Simon Wangai, Kenya, 2:10:35, $20,000
4) Thomas Omwenga, Kenya, 2:11:47, $13,000
5) Habte Jifar, Ethiopia, 2:12:39, $10,000
6) Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:14:26, $7000
7) Mikhail Khobotov, Russia, 2:15:05, $5500
8) Nicholas Murei, Kenya, 2:15:23, $4500
9) John Kagwe, Kenya, 2:15:32, $4000
10) Odilon Rojas, Mexico, 2:16:44, $1750
*course record (previous record, 2:09:25, Simon Bor, 1999)

U.S.
1) Carlos Carballo, CA, 2:19:13, $7500
2) Steve Moreno, CA, 2:19:30, $4750
3) Chris Banks, VA, 2:21:44, $1000

Other California
3) Sergio Reyes, CA, 2:23:06, $250

WOMEN
1) Lidiya Grigoryeva, Russia, 2:25:10*, $155,000 plus a Honda Accord EX V-6
2) Gete Wami, Ethiopia, 2:25:26, $40,000
3) Lyubov Denisova, Russia, 2:26:18, $25,000
4) Nuta Olaru, Romania, 2:30:30, $14,000
5) Irina Safarova, Russia, 2:34:45, $8000
6) Tatyana Pozdnyakova, Ukraine, 2:35:46, $7000
7) Lyudmila Pushkina, Ukraine, 2:41:15, $2750
8) Chris Lundy, USA/CA, 2:43:14, $8750
9) Sarah Hallas, USA/CA, 2:58:40, $5750
10) Maryn Cook, USA/CA, 3:06:00, $3000
*course record (previous record, 2:26:11, Denisova, 2005)

Complete results at: LAMarathon.com

Related info:
RunningUSA

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