FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YET MORE RECORDS BROKEN AT THE VOLKSWAGEN PRAGUE MARATHON
BENSON BARUS WINS THE MEN TITLE IN 2:07:07
NEW WOMEN'S RECORD – LYDIA CHEROMEI WINS IN 2:22:34
Prague, May 8th, 2011: After records were smashed in last year's race, and
then again at this year's Hervis Prague Half Marathon, it was always going
to be difficult to maintain the momentum in this year's Volkswagen Prague
Marathon, but, sure enough, the organisers served up a real feast for both
running aficionados and the thousands of spectators that lined the tracks.
It is difficult to imagine a more picturesque setting for what, this year,
was an IAAF Road Race Gold Label race. As an impressive field of elite
runners lined up on Prague's famous Old Town Square at 09.00 am, there was
a real sense of expectation in the air, and as the capacity field surged
across the cobblestones and out into this historic city, the crowds of
spectators knew that they were in for something special and, sure enough,
the race saw a new women's race record, with Lydia Cheromei smashing the
old course record by almost three minutes.
In the men's race, Benson Barus led a Kenyan clean sweep to win the men's
title, setting a personal best of 2:07:07 as he broke 2:08 for the first
time. Although a group of 14 men went together through the halfway mark in
1:03:47, by 30km the title was destined to be an all-Kenyan contest, with
Barus attacking at 39 km and soon going clear of Kenneth Mungara and
marathon debutant Samuel Kosgei. Mungara, at the age of 38, ran a personal
best of 2:07:36 while Samuel Kosgei showed his potential for the marathon
with a fine debut in 2:07:47 on a warm day when temperatures rose into the
high teens centigrade.
Lydia Cheromei, the new women's champion, was a World Cross Country junior
champion at the age of 13, 20 years ago, but having won the Hervis Prague
Half Marathon earlier this year, there was always some expectation that she
could get near the course record. She was rarely troubled during the race,
winning by almost six minutes and proving to the world that she has the
potential to race against the very best in the marathon. Ethiopia's
Yeshimebet Tadesse finished second in 2:28:33 while her compatriot
Belainesh Zemedkun was third in 2:32:15. Cheromei went through 10km in
30:06 and halfway in 1:10:41, on course to attack the 2:20 barrier, but
slowed in the second half, though her win was never in doubt.
Local representation was strong and the Czech athletes put up a great
showing, with Petr Pechek the first Czech man home in a personal best of
2:18:28, whilst Radka Churanova continued her excellent form, coming home
in 2:53:12.
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