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1999 Brooks Pharmacy Ocean State Marathon by Gerry Beagan
1999 Brooks Pharmacy Ocean State Marathon KIRWA SCORES FIRST MAJOR VICTORY In the largest field ever for the 7th running of the Brooks Pharmacy Ocean State Marathon, Jacob Kirwa, 23, of Kenya emerged late and ran down two of his countrymen to score a very impressive 2:14:54 win. His time left him less than a minute short of the sub-2:14:00 time which would have given him a $10,000 bonus but he was quite pleased with first place, the laurel wreath and $7000. As the 1900+ entry field hurtled down the grade from The Community College of Rhode Island starting grid all the pre-race favorites went straight to the front. As they emerged from the college grounds and passed the mile in 5:28, Kebet Cherop, 25, of Kenya began forcing a faster pace. His measured but relentless pressure lowered the pace to 5:07 per mile by three miles at 15:21 with a group of about 15 behind him. The 5:07 pace held steady as his gap widened through six miles at 30:40, 40:52 at eight miles and ten miles at 50:58. Behind him, Elly Rono, 29, another Kenyan had moved away from the group and was making steady progress on closing the gap. But through 11 miles at 56:03 and 12 miles at 1:01:00 the space between Cherop and Rono had gone back to 21 seconds. At the half-marathon Cherop was timed at 1:06:18 and was successfully challenging the field behind him to quicken the pace. Only Rono was up to the task, however, and by 15 miles Cherop was 1:16:12 and Rono had regained to only a six second disadvantage. The race was on! At 16 miles, entering Providence, the two were shoulder to shoulder and step for step. Behind them the chasing pack began to separate and a few runners began earnestly chasing the leaders. Undaunted and unaware the lead duo charged through 17 miles at 1:26:20, 18 miles at 1:31:20 and headed for the backside hills through 19 miles at 1:36:26. At 20 miles those chasing the leaders were only 28 seconds off the pace and closing very fast. But Rono had decided the downgrade after 20 was ripe for pressure and he strengthened the pace. At 21 miles, at 1:46:41, he was away from Cherop but was being pursued fiercely by Daniel Kihara, 32, of Kenya. By 22 miles at 1:52:11, after the course's stiffest uphill challenge, Rono and Kerop were running in tandem. By 23 mile, however, it was clear Kihara was forcing the issue and as Rono dropped off the pace the hard charging Kirwa took over the chase. At 24 miles at 2:01:51, Kihara's lead shrunk to two seconds. And, at 25 miles, after a valiant fight against a sudden, stiff headwind, Kirwa was clear in the lead at 2:08:27 with the gargantuan task of trying to forge a 5:33 out of 1.2 miles. It wasn't to be but he got the win and displayed that his youthful talent will have to be reckoned with in the future. Kihara was next at 2:15:49 and Reuben Chesang, 36, scored an almost three minute improvement in his marathon time with a 2:16:15. Rono held on the place fourth at 2:16:33 and Zack Kunyiha, 29, also of Kenya, completed the sweep with a 2:17:05. POZDNYAKOVA HAS IT ALL HERE WAY In the women's race it was ALL Tetyana Pozdnyakova and more so. The 44-year-old Ukrainian marvel took on a stellar women's field early and ran away to a 2:31:52 which brought her prize money, bonuses and the amazed accolades of those who witnessed her marvelous singlehanded dismantling of the new course. At two miles she had control and by three miles, at 17:36, she was clear of her countrywoman Yelena Plastinina, 36, and forging a relentless pursuit of the time incentive. Alone she passed five miles at 29:34, ten miles at 58:49 and 15 miles with a 1:27:50. Despite the chilling of the air and the pressing of a brisk wind she continued to click of miles well under six minute pace. Passing 20 miles at 1:56:37 it was apparent a major collapse would be the only hazard she faced. Her 2:31:52 was the fastest time ever recorded by a woman on a New England course, outside of Boston, and gave her a $10,000 time bonus, $7000 for the outright win, $5000 for running under 2:49:00 as a master and $700 for being first master woman finisher. Plastinina was next at 2:39:25 and Canadian Danuta Bartoczek, 38, was third with a 2:43:45. The first U.S. finisher, Charlene Lyford, 33, of Greene, NY was next at 2:50:23 and Mary Burns-Prine, 42, of San Diego placed fifth and second among master women with a 2:58:05. There were over 1500 finishers.
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