NEW YORK - (November 7, 2004) - For Hendrik Ramaala and Paula
Radcliffe, it was redemption for Olympic DNFs. For Meb Keflezighi,
it was the culmination of a silver hat trick. And for Deena Kastor,
it was proof that while the spirit may be willing, if the flesh is
weak, even the magic and excitement of the ING New York City
Marathon isn't enough to produce a miracle.
Great Britain's Radcliffe and South African Ramaala, early leaders
in the Athens marathons who never reached the finish line, rebounded
strongly in the final big event of a year full of many spotlight
races. Ramaala, 32, finally realized the promise he's shown in the
past by winning a major marathon, pulling away from Athens silver
medalist Keflezighi and 2004 Boston champ Timothy Cherigat in the
final miles in Central Park to a convincing 25 second win in
2:09:28.
"The time didn't matter to me," said Ramaala, who had finished 14th
(2002) and fifth (2001) in his previous Big Apple runs. About the
only mistake he made in running a tactically perfect race was
missing the finish tape when he crossed the line.
Less than half a minute later, Keflezighi, who had finished second
in the Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, Ala. in February and
duplicated that performance in Athens, made it three second place
finishes in three major marathons in a year, each one faster than
the preceding one. His 2:09:53 was the second fastest time for an
American this year (behind Khalid Khannouchišs 2:08:44 from Chicago
last month) and gave him three of the top five U.S. annual
performances. It was also the fifth fastest U.S. time at New York
and made him the third fastest American in the race's history,
behind Alberto Salazar and Ken Martin. It was the highest placing by
an American in New York since Bob Kempainen's runner-up in 1993.
"I just tried to be smart today. At about 16 miles, they threw in a
really strong surge. I was struggling with a cramp. It took a lot of
energy to catch up to those guys. Ramaala had his day today. People
had doubts about what I was going to do, but the doubts have been
answered," said Keflezighi, a two-time Olympian and UCLA grad.
In addition, 1993 was also the last time two American men placed in
the top 10, a feat that was equaled this year. Keflezighi of Mammoth
Lakes, Calif. was followed across the line seven places later by
Team Running USA training partner Ryan Shay, who recorded a 21
second PR with his 2:14:08 clocking.
"I wanted to run in the 2:10s, be in the top three Americans, and
top 10 overall, so two out of three, I have to be pleased with my
run here today," said Shay. His time was the ninth fastest by an
American this year, and makes him the seventh fastest performer for
2004. Three other Americans Abdi Abdirahman (14th, 2:17:09 in his
debut for the distance), Matt Downing (16th, 2:18:50) and 2004
Olympian Dan Browne (20th, 2:23:27) cracked the top 20.
As exciting as the men's race was it was overshadowed by the drama
of the women, who, for the third year in a row, started 35 minutes
ahead of the men. Right from the get-go Radcliffe, 30, who had
decided to run just 12 days before, assumed her front-running style,
towing a group of some half dozen through splits that were more than
a minute ahead of Margaret Okayo's 2:22:31 course record, set last
year. As the group came off the Queensboro Bridge past 15 miles,
Kastor, who admitted her body had not recovered quickly enough from
Athens to allow her to prepare for this race the way she wanted,
began to cramp up in many parts of her legs, and stepped off the
course somewhere before 17 miles.
The leaders slowed a bit in the final 10K, but the early pace had
done in all Radcliffe's challengers except Susan Chepkemei, the
hottest road racer on the American circuit this summer. The two
matched strides down Fifth Avenue and through Central Park, with
Radcliffe putting in her one final, and as it turned out, winning,
move as the pair re-entered the Park at Columbus Circle.
"I was confident I could beat Susan in a kick, since I've raced her
several times before," said Radcliffe. More of a worry was a wave of
nausea that hit her around 24 miles. "I just told myself to push
through it, you can get sick after you finish. What mattered was
coming here and winning the race."
Known as much for her gutsiness as her speed, Radcliffe did just
that, edging Chepkemei by four seconds in the closest women's finish
in the race's history. Their times of 2:23:10 and 2:23:14 ranked
number 3 and 4 on the all-time New York list, and the same positions
for the world list for 2004.
On a beautiful fall day in New York City with temperatures in the
mid-50s and plenty of sun, a race record 37,257 started.
35th ING New York City Marathon
New York, NY, Sunday, Nov 7, 2004
MEN
1) Hendrik Ramaala (RSA), 2:09:28, $125,000 plus smart car
2) Meb Keflezighi (USA/CA), 2:09:53, $115,000
3) Timothy Cherigat (KEN), 2:10:00, $45,000
4) Patrick Tambwe (COD), 2:10:11, $35,000
5) Benson Cherono (KEN), 2:11:23, $20,000
6) Christopher Cheboiboch (KEN), 2:12:34, $10,000
7) John Kagwe (KEN), 2:12:35, $7,500
8) Paul Kirui (KEN), 2:14:04, $5,000
9) Ryan Shay (USA/MI), 2:14:08, $5,000
10) Ottavio Andriani (ITA), 2:14:51, $1,000
WOMEN
1) Paula Radcliffe (GBR), 2:23:10, $140,000 plus smart car
2) Susan Chepkemei (KEN), 2:23:14, $85,000
3) Lyubov Denisova (RUS), 2:25:18, $55,000
4) Margaret Okayo (KEN), 2:26:31, $35,000
5) Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT), 2:26:51, $30,000
6) Luminita Zaituc (GER), 2:28:15, $15,000
7) Lornah Kiplagat (KEN), 2:28:21, $12,500
8) Larisa Zousko (RUS), 2:29:32, $5,000
9) Madai Perez (MEX), 2:29:57, $2,500
10) Kerryn McCann (AUS), 2:32:06, $1,000
Top U.S.
15) Jenny Crain (USA/WI), 2:41:06
For full results, go to: www.ingnycmarathon.org
# # #
Special thanks to
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press
release.
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
http://www.usaldr.org
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