60 DR M-A04 Boston

Where there is a will BAA Boston Marathon, USA. 19 April 2004 Just as in London and New alongside Rop. Rop responded York, the venerable Boston and the group immediately Marathon, in its 108th edition, reduced to four remaining incorporated a separate elite contenders: Rop, Cherigat, Lel, and the novice Robert Cheboror. women’s race which set off Only 3km after Cherigat’s fall it (and finished) before the elite looked like his only rival would be men and mass runners. defending champion Rop. The increased prominence of Cherigat challenged Rop with a the women’s race was surge up Heartbreak Hill, and Rop immediately rewarded with a fell back. Cherigat’s pace did not show of brilliance and courage relent. He appeared magnificent, that will not soon be forgotten unpressed, buoyed by the hoards writes Barbara Huebner. Catherine that lined the streets into Ndereba found something deep downtown. He sneaked backward inside to keep clear of Elfenesh glances now and then, but he did Alemu for a 16-second victory not have to worry. Rop, Cheboror margin. and Lel struggled towards their own finishes, although Rop failed Ndereba grimaced and to finish, along with another past Catherine Ndereba needing help to lift the trophy laboured her way down Boylston champion, Cheruiyot. Swinging Street with Alemu closing behind a minute, with Jevtic slipping into leading, he lunged for a drink, into Boylston Street with the tape her. “The pain was tough (from an isolated third. She passed missed it and tumbled to the in sight, Cherigat had time to savour his impending win. cramping calf muscles), and I halfway 30 seconds behind ground. He stopped to retrieve it could only just stand it” Ndereba Ndereba as Alemu continued to and lost five seconds as the said later, after having wilted to He claimed: “I trained for this lead (1:12:19). The women of leaders hammered onward. With move [on Heartbreak Hill]. I knew the ground when safely across the Wellesley College roared their finish line. the Newton Hills immediately that if I made it, it would drive me encouragement. ahead, prevailing wisdom would to the finish line”. Behind him the unheralded Cheboror came At 11.31, 29 minutes before the To no one’s surprise Ndereba have been to inch back into mass start, 34 women had set off through to take second, with Lel a caught Alemu at around 24km, contention. But it is inspiration from Hopkinton, west of Boston. further two minutes behind. A and the two would endure the rather than wisdom which often The temperature was already at total of 16,793 runners completed heat side-by-side up until 40km. wins races. 25ºC, and would rise to 29C by the the race, more than any except By 32km the heat was beginning finish. Malgorzata Szobanska led Hanging back was not in the 1996 centenary celebration, to tell on both of them, but they off, respectful of the conditions, Cherigut’s plan. He charged back which was not subject to a held to the pace. At the 1 mile with a 5:51 first mile. Alemu soon and forced his way to the front, qualification time. (1600m) to go sign, Ndereba took control and upped the pace. struck, to quickly forge a 20m She had won the Tokyo Women’s marathon last November, and lead. Alemu was suffering back looked coolly confident in the problems which prevented her heat. giving chase, and the gap grew to 60m before Alemu regrouped. But She passed five miles in 28:33 time ran out, and Ndereba had with Olivera Jevtich in second and her third win in Boston: “It was Ndereba an unhurried third. By special today. You need to have eight miles the two leaders were the will.” eight seconds ahead of Ndereba. “I went with my own pace” the highly experienced World For the men’s race, pre-race Champion later observed. By speculation revolved around the 15km (51:56) the pace was around first three from last year, writes Jim 2:26, and Ndereba had passed O’Brien. But Timothy Cherigat Jevtic but still trailed Alemu by overcame all to break the tape eight seconds, and seemed first. Cherigat came to the race content to play a waiting game. “I battle-hardened from his 2003 knew she was there”, said Alemu. experience, and was prepared for The second pack of five trailed by whatever the elements could The start at Hopkinton Result throw at him. MEN: Through the opening downhill 1 Timothy CHERIGAT KEN 2:10:37 miles the pace was pedestrian, 2 Robert CHEBOROR KEN 2:11:49 averaging over 5 minutes for the 3 Martin LEL KEN 2:13:38 first five and a little under that for 4 Stephen KIOGORA KEN 2:14:34 the second five. The mercury 5 Hailu NEGUSSIE ETH 2:17:30 soared and the pace meandered. 6 Benjamin KIMUTAI KEN 2:17:45 7 Joshua KIPKEMBOI KEN 2:18:23 The pack remained cumbersome, 8 Andrew LETHERBY AUS 2:19:31 sometimes occupying the entire 9 Fedor RYZHOV RUS 2:21:45 road width. By halfway (1:05:30) a 10 Elly RONO KEN 2:22:45 knot of race favourites had drifted WOMEN: towards the front of the group: 1 Catherine NDEREBA KEN 2:24:27 New York winner and World half 2 Elfenesh ALEMU ETH 2:24:43 marathon champion Martin Lel, 3 Olivera JEVTIC YUG 2:27:34 4 Jelena PROCOPCUKA LAT 2:30:16 last year’s winner and twice 5 Nuta OLARU ROM 2:30:44 winner in New York, Rogers Rop, 6 Lyubov DENISOVA RUS 2:31:17 Benjamin Kimutai and Robert 7 Malgorzata SZOBANSKA POL 2:32:23 Cheruiyot. 8 Victoria KLIMINA RUS 2:33:20 9 Ramila BURANGILOVA RUS 2:34:08 Cherigat only captured 10 Ai YAMAMOTO JPN 2:34:32 attention at 26km, when, with Rop 60 DISTANCE RUNNING May - August 2004.

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