Tue, Nov 24 2009
|
Kenya’s Wanjiru wins men’s Olympic marathon Defending Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, in his final marathon, finished 12th, then praised those who finished at the front. “In the last 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) it was unbelievable what the ... Africans were able to do under these conditions,” he said. The temperature was 75 degrees with 52 percent humidity when the race began at 7:30 a.m. and it heated up steadily through the morning, reaching 86 degrees by the finish. The lead pack began to separate through the first three miles. By the halfway mark, eight were grouped at the front, led by Eritrean Yonas Kifle. After almost 19 miles, the pack had dwindled to three — Wanjiru, Merga and Gharib. Reigning world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya stayed with the leaders through the early stages but fell back and finally pulled out of the race shortly past the halfway mark. He later said he had a stomach problem. World record-holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia decided not to run the race because of concerns about air pollution. But after an overnight thunderstorm, a glorious blue sky greeted the final day of these games. The race began at the edge of Tiananmen Square, then wound around the Temple of Heaven before turning northward toward the Olympic Green and the Bird’s Nest, where colorful dancers, drummers and cyclists entertained the crowd as it awaited the runners. 
More from the 2008 Olympics section
Kenya’s Wanjiru wins men’s Olympic marathon Saturday's Olympic medal winners, results |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
||||||
|
||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
© 2009, The Muskogee Phoenix
P.O. Box 1968; Muskogee, OK 74402 (918) 684-2828 Email News tips & feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Muskogee Apartments | Muskogee Attorneys | Muskogee Auto Dealers | Muskogee Auto Parts | Muskogee Auto Repair | Muskogee Beauty Salons | Muskogee Car Rental | Muskogee Dentists | Muskogee Doctors | Muskogee Flowers | Muskogee Hotels | Muskogee Insurance | Muskogee Loans | Muskogee Mortgages | Muskogee Movers | Muskogee Pizza | Muskogee Realtors | Muskogee Restaurants | Muskogee Storage | Muskogee Tax Preparation | Muskogee Travel | Muskogee Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
