News09 Apr 2006


Meleze and Timofeyeva share honours ahead of 36,500 runners in Paris

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Russian Irina Timofeyeva wins Paris in 2:27:19 (© AFP/Getty Images)

The 30th edition of Paris International Marathon which took place today saw a record 36,500 participants, with no less than 1500 finishing before 3 hours. The men’s race was dominated by a large Kenyan team but Ethiopian Gashaw Melese left the pack with 5km to go to win comfortably in 2:08:03. The women’s race was also won by a late surge from Russian Irina Timofeyeva in 2:27:19, on a cool and sunny day in the French Capital.

First win for Meleze

The 42,195km race started at a very high pace, 14:51 at 5km, led by a dozen of Kenyans, including 2003 winner and Paris record holder Michael Rotich. After 12km, Rotich was left due to a shoe problem but managed to join the pack again.

The pace decreased progressively and get stabilisated just under 20km/h for the rest of the race, as the leader reached the half way in 1:04:07. Rotich, obviously not in his best shape faded, as seven runners remained in front with 10km to go, including Kenyans Bernard Barmasai (former 3000m Steeplechase World Record holder in 1997) and David Langat (Marathon debut but experienced on French roads), Portugal’s Luis Jesus, 37, and Gashaw Melese.

The Ethiopian chose a slight hill to make his attack, accelerating to produce a definitive gap after the 35th kilometre was reached in 1:46:27. Fourth in 2004, third in 2005, Melese had a huge lead as he entered in Avenue Foch, with a relaxed and controlled style, but had to sprint in the last metres as he realised he might be able to pass under the 2:08 barrier.

The 27-year-old winner crossed the line in 2:08:00, a time which was later corrected to 2:08:03, for his first ever Marathon win of his career after eleven starts. This still improved his previous personal best of 2:09.24 established last year on this course.

Kiprotich Kenei had a great debut with second place, and Barmasai now establishes his name as a Marathon runner with his first sub 2:10 performance.

Double for Russian women

Romanian Mihaela Botezan, with an impressive 2:25:32 personal best, took an early lead. She was immediately pursued by Asmae Leghzaoui (MOR), running her Marathon debut, and who maintained second place for more than half of the race.

Botezan, accompanied by a group of men, passed 10km in 34:26, 15km in 51:56 and half way in 1:13:00.

But it turned out that Leghzaoui, who ran 1:12:02 during the Paris Half Marathon a month ago, was clearly out of her own rhythm, and she had to pull-out. At this point, Botezan’s lead was more than one minute as she reached 30km in 1:44:25 and it appeared she had sealed a clear victory.

However, Russians Natalya Volgina and Irina Timofeyeva were organising a comeback, and managed to catch Botezan after 35km. The Romanian paid her initial fast pace and suffered psychologically when passed at this critical part of the race. She would eventually finished 4th in 2:30:27. The two Russians, who already had run the Paris race during their long careers, remained close together until the very last stages of the race.

It was Timofeyeva, 36, who won the long sprint for home in 2:27:22, only 10 seconds ahead of Volgina, who smashed her personal best by an incredible 9:47 in what was her 9th Marathon. This is a huge world class breakthrough for the 29 years old runner who had previously modest references on the road (73:28 at Half-Marathon) as well as on the track (9:27.15 at 3000m, 33:46.32 at 10,000m).

Pamela Chepchumba (KEN), a fine track specialist (14:56.75 at 5000m), came third in 2:29:48, much better than her previous mark of 2:41:12 set with the disadvantage of high altitude (Nairobi) in October 2005.

P-J Vazel for the IAAF

Results

MEN
1. Gashaw Melese (ETH) 2:08:03, Personal Best
2. Kiprotich Kenei (KEN) 2:08:51, PB, debut
3. Bernard Barmasai (KEN) 2:08:52, PB
4. Luis Jesus (POR) 2:08:55, PB
5. David Langat (KEN) 2:08:58, PB, debut
6. Youssef Galmin (MAR) 2:09:11, PB, debut
7. Philip Singoei (KEN) 2:10:11.
8. Francis Kiprop (KEN) 2:10:40, PB
9. Philip Kirui (KEN) 2:10:45, PB
10. Ottavio Andriani (ITA) 2:10:51.
11. David Ramard (FRA) 2:10:52, PB

WOMEN
1. Irina Timofeyeva (RUS) 2:27:22.
2. Natalya Volgina (RUS) 2:27:32, PB
3. Pamela Chepchumba (KEN) 2:29:48, PB
4. Mihaela Botezan (ROM) 2:30:27.
5. Alina Gherasim (ROM) 2:31:16.
6. Zaia Dahmani (FRA) 2:31:34.
7. Asha Gigi (ETH) 2:32:35.
8. Fatima Yvelain (FRA) 2:35:45.
9. Carmen Oliveras (FRA) 2:37:01.
10. Elena Fetizon (FRA) 2:41:16.

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