Maria Fedosseva (RUS) wins the 2004 Monaco Marathon (© IAAF)
MonacoThe 8th Monaco & Riviera Marathon was contested today in sunny and warm picturesque conditions but a blustery wind billowing into the faces of the 3000 competitors on the first half of the course, meant finishing times on this already one of the most grueling routes in international marathon running were severely diminished. In fact the first man home could not even break 2:22 minutes!
With this caveat in mind, it was very much Russia’s day, as her athletes took all but one of the podium positions in the men’s and women’s contests.
If there are plaudits to be given, then they should go to 2002 women’s winner Maria Fedosseva who had her nose in front from the moment the race was started by HSH Crown Prince Albert of Monaco outside the IAAF’s Headquarters in Monte-Carlo at 0930hrs (0830hrs GMT). Escorted by her compatriots Lylia Yadzhak and Yelana Debriabana for much of the race, the 43 year-old pulled away to a commanding victory in 2:41:17.
Fedosseva’s win was all the more special as it brought her 11th place overall. When she won here two years ago in a faster time (2:37), she had finished in 14th position overall.
The men’s winner Andrey Chernychov, who took third place in the Russian Championships (2:18:25) in May, was just behind the pace of a trio of Kenyans led by the designated pace maker Nicholas Kimaiyo at the beginning but negotiated the windy conditions better then his East African rivals to win in 2:22:12.
Of note, Kenyan Philip Kibet running his debut at the distance had led for a full 37km before hilly course and windy conditions got too much, and he dropped steadily back finishing fifth in 2:36:20.
IAAF
RESULTS
Marathon
Men
1 Andrey CHERNYCHOV RUS 1977 2:22:12.
2 Konstantin PERMITIN KONSTANTIN RUS 2:22:41.
3 Abderrahim BENREDOUANE MAR 1966 2:26:12.
Women
1 (11th overall) Maria FEDOSSEVA RUS 2:41:17
2 (14th overall) Lylia YADZHAK RUS 2:43:03
3 (15th overall) Yelena DERIABANA RUS 2:43:04
10km
Men - 1 Emanuele MANZI ITA 31:42
Women - 1. Vitkoria NAGY HUN 37:37
