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A Race Like No Other
2009 USA Men's Championships
by John Elliott
Except in years when the Olympic Trials Marathons are held, USA Track & Field (USATF) authorizes Marathon championships races - usually a race in conjunction with an existing marathon. Many of America's best choose to attend one of the largest marathons and in some years the Marathon championships are missing the best of the best of America's marathoners, but not for 2009. With the championships in conjunction with the New York City Marathon - some of the men who would have chosen New York over the Championships have the chance to do both. The best of the best of the USA were all on site.
The expectation was that three men would vie for the open title and by default the championships title as well: Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman - America's best three contemporary marathoners. One notable newcomer - Jorge Torres - was being coached by the legendary Steve Jones () and believed that he could achieve a sub-2:10 marathon and with that belief could also stand as an outside contender for an open podium spot and a top finish at the chamipionships.
From the start, Keflezighi, Hall, Abdirahman, Torres were running in the lead pack and they were also joined by Bolota Asmerom. Behind that main pack, other groups of Americans were running together, running the race within the race - very cognizant of the American Championships and the knowledge that their race was not at the front. The groups changed through the race, but at the 10K mark Peter Gilmore, Jason Lehmkuhle, Max King and Fasil Bizuneh were together in a second group, followed by a larger group led by Nick Arciniaga including Brian Sell, Pat Tarpy, Josh Moen, Mike Sayenko and Allen Wagner. Mike Reneau, Josh Eberly and Celedonio Rodriguez worked together; and a few others were running alone in the general field: Christopher Raabe, Dan Browne, among others.
It was a unique treat to watch the best of America participating within the larger race - and it was impressive to see many of these men running together and most doing extremely well.
A few of the Americans with the most promise did the poorest: Bolota Asmerom found the initial pace too fast and eventually dropped out after mile 18. Dan Browne, slowing and crossing the halfway mark in 1:10:09 as twenty-third American also dropped out later in the race. Brian Sell, the 2008 Olympian at the marathon, finished in 2:24:59 as 18th American, a far cry from his 2:10:47 finish at the 2006 Chicago Marathon or his 2:11:40 third place finish at the 2007 Olympic Trials.
But the day was not about the disappointments, it was about the victories. The most important of these was that of Meb Keflezighi in particular and of the entire American contingent as a whole. Meb Keflezighi - as he did at the 2004 Olympics with his silver medal - showed that his heart and spirit can overcome runners who may be, on paper, faster and stronger. And with that we expect American running to again be reinvigorated.
And the rest of the Americans showed amazing progress... In a deep field, six Americans finished in the top ten, twelve Americans finished in the top twenty - and that is incredible. Jorge Torres ran an incredible debut marathon - looking comfortable in the front of the international field and holding on strongly to finish seventh overall and third American. Nick Arciniaga ran a smart and strong race picking off runners and with the upcoming retirement of Brian Sell, Arciniaga will likely pickup the mantel as leader of the Hansons Group. Abdi Abdirahman showed his potential, although he faded later in the race; while Jason Lehmkuhle and Peter Gilmore continued to show they are strong competitors near the top of American marathoning. It seems that American marathoning is back and able to compete with the rest of the world.
USA Marathon Championships Results (prize incl. open money and time bonuses)
1. Keflezighi, Meb 2:09:15 ($200,000 1 overall)
2. Hall, Ryan 2:10:36 ($60,000 4 overall)
3. Torres, Jorge 2:13:00 ($27,000 7 overall)
4. Arciniaga, Nick 2:13:46 ($20,000 8 overall)
5. Abdirahman, Abdi 2:14:00 ($14,000 9 overall)
6. Lehmkuhle, Jason 2:14:39 ($11,000 10 overall)
7. Gilmore, Peter 2:15:22 ($8,000 12 overall)
8. Sayenko, Mike 2:16:38 ($5,000 14 overall)
9. Reneau, Mike 2:16:45 ($4,000 15 overall)
10. Wagner, Allen 2:17:49 ($3,000 17 overall)
11. King, Max 2:19:11 ($2,500 18 overall)
12. Raabe, Christopher 2:19:49 ($2,000 20 overall)
13. Tarpy, Pat 2:20:43 ($1,500 21 overall)
14. Morseman, Bryan 2:23:50 ($1,000 23 overall)
15. Eberly, Josh 2:24:10 ($1,000 24 overall)
Coverage Homepage
Post Race: Men's Race |
Women's Race |
USA Men's Championships |
Complete Searchable Results
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Pre-Race:
Men's Marathon:
Men's Race Preview and Starter List |
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Women's Marathon:
Women's Race Preview and Starter List |
Women's Bios
USA Men's Marathon Championship:
Championships Race Preview |
USA Men's Bios
Extras:
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Videos (Athletes/Archival & Past Races/Course Information/More...)
More News:
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Featured Book/Movie:
Run For Your Life |
A Race Like No Other
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