Steven Matebo Cheptot (KEN) wins the 2005 Prague Volkswagen Marathon (© c)
Prague, Czech RepublicSteven Matebo Cheptot kept his head cool in warm and humid weather to win Prague’s Volkswagen Marathon in 2:10:42 to lead yet another clean sweep of the medals by Kenyan runners today.
Salina Jebet Kosgei won the women’s race in 2:28:42.
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In what proved to be a race with an exciting and unexpected finish the 30-year-old fared well in the less than ideal running conditions (19 Celsius, 70 percent humidity during the race). His task was also helped by the fact that the pre-race favourite, who had established a clear lead and held it until km 35, Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei suddenly quit with a harmstring injury.
Laban Kipngetich was second in 2:11:48 followed by Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot on third place in 2:12:14. Czech Republic’s Jan Blaha won the national championships in coming sixth overall in 2:17:59. He was also the first European to cross the finish line.
Cheptot’s time was two minutes slower than the course record but the winner admitted that it was impossible to go for it under the circumstances.
“It was too humid” said Cheptot, admitting that in the end he was happy that he chose the right race strategy. “I let the others dictate the pace and just followed them but at my own pace to save energy. In the end it paid off”.
The first three together with defending champion Barnabas Koech, Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei and Simion Kiprop Tuitoek were in the six Kenyan group that formed the leading pack by the half marathon stage.
Then Wilson Kiprotich decided that it is time to get away from the rest and only Steven Cheptot, Robert Kiprotich and Kipngetich formed a trio that stayed close to the leader who seemed almost certain to win.
But there is nothing predicable about any marathon and when at 35km Kiprotich unexpectedly quit Cheptot just saw his opportunity and went for it.
WOMEN
In the women’s event the pre-race favourite Salina Jebet Kosgei also suffered under the oppressive weather conditions but she prevailed to confirm her talent which had taken her to the 2004 Paris Marathon title, coming home in 2:28:42. Experienced Russian Larissa Zousko who finished second on 2:30:14, prevented yet another Kenyan sweep as Hellen Cherono was third with a personal best of 2:31:28.
All three admitted afterwards they could have done better had it not been for the unpleasant conditions.
A total of 4646 runners entered this year’s full Volkswagen Marathon. Another 12,000 opted for the various fun-runs.
