Kenyan just misses course record in Philadelphia Marathon
Posted Monday, 20 November, 2006
PHILADELPHIA -- Kenya's Hosea Kimutai won the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, narrowly missing a course record.
Kimutai pulled away from a pack of three runners at the 18-mile mark and went on to finish in two hours, 17 minutes, 9 seconds. That was 22 seconds off the record for a 26.2-mile race in Philadelphia.
Michael McKeeman took second in 2:17.50. His time qualified him for the 2007 United States men's Olympic marathon trials in New York City.
In the women's race, Russians took the top two spots.
Maryina Bychkova won the title with a personal best 2:40.31. Larisa Mikhaylova stayed close for much of the race, but faded down the stretch and crossed the line in 2:41.43.
A field of more than 7,000 took part in the marathon, held in excellent weather conditions.
When it came time to make a move Sunday, Kimutai had no doubts.
"I was feeling so strong, I decided to push the pace," he said.
McKeeman, 30, was a surprise medalist.
"I didn't expect to run as fast as I did," he said. "I was just trying to race people, I wasn't focusing on one certain time. I was more focused on beating people. You can't be scared of people, you have to be confident."
The women's race went to Bychkova, an accomplished marathoner. She said she still felt good in the final stage and Mikhaylova, a former champion and now two-time runner-up, couldn't keep the pace.
"In the first half, I was very far from the leaders," Bychkova said. "With about five or six miles to go, I felt I could win."
In the new accompanying half marathon, Kenya's Valentine Orare took the men's crown in 1:02.29. The women's title went to Kenya's Margaret Kane in 1:12.42.
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