Shami atop the marathon podium in Prague 2006 (© c)
The Prague International Marathon which took place on 14 May and was won by Hassan Mubarek Shami of Qatar (2:11:11), while the women’s division was taken by Russia’s Alina Ivanova (2:29:20).
Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar, the World Half Marathon silver medallist who has a marathon personal best of 2:09:22 from winning the Venice Marathon last autumn, managed to retain his composure and win the Prague title despite having been chased by a lively dog for some distance of the race on Sunday.
A pair of Kenyans took second and third. David Kemboi Kiyeng clocked in at 2:11:42, and Joseph Kiprotich Ngeny finished at 2:13:57.
The first woman to cross was Alina Ivanova of Russia, finishing in 2:29:20. She was followed by 2006 Prague Half Marathon winner Caroline Chepkorir Kwambai of Kenya (2:31:08) and Caroline Kilel Cheptonui (2:31:10).
The Czech men made a very strong showing. The first three Czech men to finish were Pavel Faschingbauer who finished 5th overall with a time (2:17:13), Pavel Novak (2:18:21) finished 8th overall, and Jan Blaha (2:24:56) finished 12th overall.
Among Czech women, Ivana Martincova finished first, and 56th overall, with a time of 2:51”50. She was trailed by her countrywomen, Radka Churanova who finished with a time of 3:01:03. And Anna Bacova at 3:06:42.
The Prague Marathon is also the scene of the finals for the Go Junior Marathon Championship, a relay event featuring 10-person teams from 14 different Czech cities, plus two visiting teams from Serbia. In the end, teams from Jicin (2:33:58), Ceske Budejovice (2:34:32) and Pardubice (2:34:33) took first, second and third respectively.
Richard Herstek for the IAAF
