Samson Kosgei en route to his win at the 2005 Florence Marathon (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
With wins by Samson Kosgei (2:11:27) and Alice Chelangat (2:30:46) over a fascinating but challenging course, the 22nd edition of the Florence Marathon was an entirely Kenyan affair.
Men’s race - Still a novice, Kosgei dominates
The two designated pacemakers, Barnabas Koech and Sylas Kirui, set the early pace, reaching 10 kilometres in 30:39. The lead group also included pre-race favourite Danilo Goffi of Italy, Kosgei, and compatriots Paul Kipkemei and David Kipruto. The chase pack, with Kenyan Philemon Kipkering and Italians Angelo Carosi and Giacomo Leone, followed 55 seconds behind.
Kirui led the field through the half in 1:05:00, holding a one-second margin over Godwin Kororia, Kosgei and Kipkemei. Struggling, Goffi began losing ground on the leaders.
The race reached its climax at 30Km when Kosgei pulled away from Kororia, beginning to build what would become an insurmountable lead. Kosgei reached the 30Km mark in 1:32:18, and eventually increased his lead to a solid 36 seconds over Kororia in the final kilometres, leaving Kororia, Kipkemei, and Kipruto to fight for the remaining podium positions.
Kosgei crossed the finish line with a personal best 2:11:27, claiming his second win of the year. In late August, the 32-year-old won in Brussels in 2:12:03. His set his previous best, 2:11:43, at the 2004 Maratona d’Italia.
According to his coach, the Italian Renato Canova, Kosgei only began running seriously just three years ago. He trains in the Iten training camp, Canova said, which is just three kilometres from his home.
The challenging course considerably slowed the performances over the final kilometres. Kipruto took second place in 2:16:15, while Kororia, who was in trouble in the final kilometres and struggled just to finish the race, held on for third (2:18:02), just ahead of Leone's late-race surge.
“It was a make or break race for me,” said Leone, the 1996 New York City Marathon winner, who last finished a marathon in 2002 in Padua. “If I had not finished the race, I would have probably ended my running career. After three years without finishing a marathon race, I came to Florence with the goal of finishing. The final time does not matter.” Leone said his next outing over the distance will come in the spring, where he’ll hope to earn a berth on the Italian team for the European Championships in Gothenburg.
Goffi, who came to Florence in search of a solid performance after pulling out of the World Championships in Helsinki, was forced to drop out in the 29th kilometre.
“I had some breathing problems and then suffered from some calf problems,” said a disappointed Goffi. “This physical problem has nothing to do with the microfracture I suffered before Helsinki. It is a big blow for me.”
Women’s race – Chelangat unchallenged
Chelangat, who was 11th at last year’s Olympic Games and the 2001 Milan Marathon winner, took a gun-to-tape win in the women’s race in 2:30:46. Well back in second was Ivana Iozzia, the reigning Italian champion, in 2:41:48.
Chelangat jumped to the lead from the outset, reaching the 10Km point in 35:30, eight seconds ahead of compatriot Anne Chelagat Kibor and Iozzia. She increased her leading margin to 1:06 by the 21st kilometre, which she passed in 1:14:49. Iozzia, who won the Padua marathon in April, suffered from some physical problems and lost ground on Chelangat, eventually falling more than two minutes behind by 30Km.
“It was my first time in Florence,” said Chelangat. “The weather helped me a lot today. I am happy to have returned to running races after some injury problems.”
Ida Kovacs from Hungary finished third in 2:42:56.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Leading results -
Men:
1. Samson Kosgei, Kenya, 2:11:27
2. David Kipruto, Kenya, 2:16:15
3. John Godwin Kororia, Kenya, 2:18:02
4. Giacomo Leone, Italy, 2:18:04
5. Pavel Novak, Czech Republic, 2:18:34
Women:
1. Alice Chelangat, Kenya, 2:30:46
2. Ivana Iozzia, Italy, 2:41:48
3. Ida Kovacs, Hungary, 2:42:56
