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Kirui seals Kenyan world marathon double
September 4, 2011, Sunday
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Online Edition
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Dominant Kenya made it a stunning marathon double today as defending champion Abel Kirui destroyed the field to win the men's event to add to their victory in the women's race.
In yet another show of distance running power by the African nation, Kirui crossed the line in 2hr 07min 38sec, nearly two-and-a-half minutes ahead of team-mate Vincent Kipruto (2:10.06) -- the biggest winning margin in world championships history.
Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa, who had been locked in a battle for second with Kipruto, faded towards the end, the 21-year-old eventually taking bronze in 2:10.32.
Kirui's time was the second fastest in world championships history, meaning he now owns the top two times. He set a championships record at the 2009 worlds of 2:06.54. The previous record winning margin was 1min 19sec.
The 29-year-old, who did a celebratory dance after crossing the finishing line, said: "It is really very, very nice for me. It was emotional. I find myself sometimes dancing, rejoicing because it was a very great day."
Kirui, who was a late inclusion on Kenya's marathon team after overcoming poor early-season form and an ankle injury, said his strategy to force the pace had worked out well.
"I pushed the pace from the 20th kilometre and that is what gave me the gold medal. I saved my energy for this championship," he added.
When asked for his feelings following the death of Kenyan Olympic gold medallist Sammy Wanjiru earlier this year after a fall from the balcony of his home, Kirui said he was sorry for what had happened, adding: "We are here to play the role Wanjiru used to play."
Silver medallist Kipruto said: "I'm happy that gold and silver go to Kenya. Our country should be proud of our success. I think I can run even better than this and I hope to do something good in the 2012 Olympics."
At the half-way mark through the streets of downtown Daegu, four Kenyans wearing green and red vests were in the lead, and at one point they were strung out in a line across the road.
And at 25km Kirui, Kipruto and team-mate Eliud Kiptanui, who finished sixth, had only Lilesa and Morocco's Abderrahime Bouramdane for company as the pace picked up.
But when Kirui decided to turn on the gas, striking out alone at the 28km mark, his rivals could not live with him and he had established an 11sec lead over Kiptanui by the 30km mark.
His 25km to 30km split of 14min 18sec was the fastest ever 5km split at a world championships.
Bronze medallist Lilesa, the youngest ever world medallist in the event, said: "Until now, Ethiopia has not had a good championship, now at least we have another medal."
The race was run in cloudy conditions with humidity lower than in previous days in the South Korean city as four Kenyans made up the top six.
Kenya's men's marathon 1-2 showing adds to medals cleansweeps in the women's marathon and 10,000m earlier in the championships, in which distance running has been dominated by the east Africans.
And the gold medal meant they leapfrogged Russia to reach second in the world championships medals table with a total of seven golds.
Vivian Cheruiyot claimed a 5000-10,000m double, there was gold for David Rudisha in the men's 800m, and an Ezekiel Kemboi-led 1-2 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
On Saturday Asbel Kiprop added the world 1500m title to his Olympic crown, leading another Kenyan 1-2.
In yet another show of distance running power by the African nation, Kirui crossed the line in 2hr 07min 38sec, nearly two-and-a-half minutes ahead of team-mate Vincent Kipruto (2:10.06) -- the biggest winning margin in world championships history.
Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa, who had been locked in a battle for second with Kipruto, faded towards the end, the 21-year-old eventually taking bronze in 2:10.32.
Kirui's time was the second fastest in world championships history, meaning he now owns the top two times. He set a championships record at the 2009 worlds of 2:06.54. The previous record winning margin was 1min 19sec.
The 29-year-old, who did a celebratory dance after crossing the finishing line, said: "It is really very, very nice for me. It was emotional. I find myself sometimes dancing, rejoicing because it was a very great day."
Kirui, who was a late inclusion on Kenya's marathon team after overcoming poor early-season form and an ankle injury, said his strategy to force the pace had worked out well.
"I pushed the pace from the 20th kilometre and that is what gave me the gold medal. I saved my energy for this championship," he added.
When asked for his feelings following the death of Kenyan Olympic gold medallist Sammy Wanjiru earlier this year after a fall from the balcony of his home, Kirui said he was sorry for what had happened, adding: "We are here to play the role Wanjiru used to play."
Silver medallist Kipruto said: "I'm happy that gold and silver go to Kenya. Our country should be proud of our success. I think I can run even better than this and I hope to do something good in the 2012 Olympics."
At the half-way mark through the streets of downtown Daegu, four Kenyans wearing green and red vests were in the lead, and at one point they were strung out in a line across the road.
And at 25km Kirui, Kipruto and team-mate Eliud Kiptanui, who finished sixth, had only Lilesa and Morocco's Abderrahime Bouramdane for company as the pace picked up.
But when Kirui decided to turn on the gas, striking out alone at the 28km mark, his rivals could not live with him and he had established an 11sec lead over Kiptanui by the 30km mark.
His 25km to 30km split of 14min 18sec was the fastest ever 5km split at a world championships.
Bronze medallist Lilesa, the youngest ever world medallist in the event, said: "Until now, Ethiopia has not had a good championship, now at least we have another medal."
The race was run in cloudy conditions with humidity lower than in previous days in the South Korean city as four Kenyans made up the top six.
Kenya's men's marathon 1-2 showing adds to medals cleansweeps in the women's marathon and 10,000m earlier in the championships, in which distance running has been dominated by the east Africans.
And the gold medal meant they leapfrogged Russia to reach second in the world championships medals table with a total of seven golds.
Vivian Cheruiyot claimed a 5000-10,000m double, there was gold for David Rudisha in the men's 800m, and an Ezekiel Kemboi-led 1-2 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
On Saturday Asbel Kiprop added the world 1500m title to his Olympic crown, leading another Kenyan 1-2.
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