03.11.2019
| Marathon
At the big New York Marathon on Sunday the current half marathon world record holders prevailed. Joyciline Jepkosgei won the women’s race on her debut in 2:22:38 hours, and the Kenyan narrowly missed the course record. The fastest runner was her compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor, Eliud Kipchoge’s training partner. The German record holder Arne Gabius narrowly missed the Olympic qualification in eleventh place.
The defending champions had to admit defeat at this year’s New York Marathon. For last year’s winner Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia), the race was over after around 10 kilometers. As predicted by experts, the recovery time after his marathon victory just four weeks ago at the World Championships in Doha (Qatar) was too short. Instead, third-placed 2018 Geoffrey Kamworor (Kenya) took the win in 2:08:13 hours.
The first congratulator at the finish was his training partner Eliud Kipchoge, who in mid-October in Vienna (Austria) was the first marathon runner to run under two hours in conditions that did not conform to the world record. Geoffrey Kamworor was not present at this event. Instead, the half marathon world record holder prepared in Kenya for the run in New York. “I felt good from the start. I was well prepared. When it got faster in the end, I had no problem with the pace, “said Kamworor.
With second place, Albert Korir (2:08:36 h), another Kenyan, made it onto the podium for the first time in a major marathon. The Ethiopian Girma Bekele Gebre (2:08:38 h) was completely surprisingly third. At 38 km Geoffrey Kamworor broke away from his last pursuer Albert Korir and ran the decisive uphill section with powerful steps towards the goal.
Arne Gabius in the top group for a long time
At the same time, Arne Gabius (Therapy Rehabilitation Bottwartal) fought in vain for a place in the top ten, which would have given him the Olympic qualification for Tokyo (Japan). The German record holder reached eleventh place in Germany’s best time of the year after 2:12:57 hours and thus narrowly missed the Olympic ticket. The Olympic standard time of 2:11:30 hours remained unmatched on the difficult course despite a courageous first race phase.
Up to kilometer 25, the 38-year-old, who after several injury problems in recent years can no longer complete such high training, ran in the 15-strong top group. Everything seemed to be going according to plan and he could still hope for the top ten.
But after the top runners stepped up their pace briefly, which Arne Gabius couldn’t keep up with, the leading group had hurried to the ascending passage of the Queensboro Bridge. While his half marathon running time of 64:52 minutes still indicated an end time of well under 2:10 hours, the trained doctor had to slow down. The tenth place, which the American Connor McMillon (2:12:07 h) got, was ultimately 50 seconds short.
Second chance at the spring marathon
For Arne Gabius, the first half went as planned. “After that, I got into trouble when it came to the top of Queensboro Bridge. Then I was between 100 and 150 meters behind and there was also a headwind on First Avenue, ”said the marathon runner, who was then able to improve again. “The ups and downs in Central Park suited me, I caught myself there and could run a little faster again. Then I also saw that a time of under 2:13 hours was still possible. “
After missing the Olympic qualification, there is still the chance to recommend yourself in a spring marathon for Tokyo. “I am now thinking about where I will run in the spring. It is important to stay healthy and injury-free, ”said Arne Gabius, who crossed the finish line for the first time in a foreign marathon race. In London (Great Britain) in 2016 and Boston (USA) in 2018, he had both given up due to injury. “New York was a mega experience with a great atmosphere and great impressions.” First of all, the man from Stuttgart is now going on a short vacation with his family to Miami.
Joyciline Jepkosgei just missed the course record on her debut
In front of the men, the women entered the race in perfect running conditions – sunshine, blue sky, light wind and an average of eight degrees. Secret favorite Joyciline Jepkosgei triumphed on her marathon debut and missed her compatriot Margaret Okayo’s 16-year-old New York course record (2003; 2:22:31 h) by just seven seconds with 2:22:38 hours. The half marathon world record holder ran the second fastest woman’s time on the course.
Joyciline Jepkosgei was able to break away from defending champion Mary Keitany at 35 km. The Kenyan duo took the lead after about 34 kilometers after the third-placed Ethiopian Ruti Aga (2:25:51 h) lost contact with the two world-class runners. For the four-time New York winner Keitany finished second in 2:23:32 hours. The trio had passed the half marathon mark in 71:39 minutes.
“My strategy was to have some energy left at the end of the race. On the last few kilometers, as it went towards the finish line, I saw that I could win,” said Joyciline Jepkosgei. The best American was Desiree Linden in sixth place (2nd place) : 26: 46 h), the winner of last year’s Boston Marathon thrilled the home crowd with an intermittent lead at 20 kilometers. The New York Marathon is the largest race in the world over the 42.195 kilometers. Around 52,000 runners started.
You can find the complete results in our results column …
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