Posted: October 10, 2004

Athletics: Tomescu-Dita Wins Chicago Marathon

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

CHICAGO (10-Oct) -- Despite finishing 20th at Olympic Marathon 49 days ago, and taking the bronze medal at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships just 7 days ago, Constantina Tomescu-Dita won the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon here today in 2:23:45 (unofficial), becoming the first Romanian to win in Chicago.

She was ill for several days prior to the race with the flu, but still took the lead at the two mile mark, and never relinquished it. Although she did slow down in the second half, she was never seriously challenged.

It was the first marathon victory for Tomescu-Dita, best known for bursting ahead in major marathons and faltering in the second half. She was second here last year, caught in the second half by Svetlana Zakharova of Russia.

Nuta Olaru of Romania finished second and Zakharova finished third (no finish times available yet).

LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon (27th) - Chicago, IL, USA; Sunday, October 10
Distance: 42.195 km, certified loop course

WOMEN - 
 1. Constantina Tomescu-Dita, ROM, 2:23:45
 2. Nuta Olaru, ROM, 2:24:33
 3. Svetlana Zakharova, RUS, 2:25:01
 4. Joyce Chepchumba, KEN, 2:26:21
 5. Albina Ivanova, RUS, 2:28:22
 6. Shitaye Gemechu, ETH, 2:28:28
 7. Marla Runyan, Eugene, Ore., 2:28:33
 8. Derartu Tulu, ETH, 2:30:21
 9. Blake Russel, Monterey, Calif., 2:32:04
10. Jenny Spangler (40+), Gurnee, Ill., 2:33:36
11. Malgorzata Sobanska, POL, 2:35:24
12. Nicole Stevenson, CAN, 2:39:12