Posted: May 22, 2005

Athletics: Shami and Barsosio win while warm weather slows runners

In very warm temperatures of more than 25° Celsius at the end of the race Mubbarak Shami (Qatar) and Florence Barsosio (Kenya) won the 22nd edition of the Vienna City Marathon. Shami, who switched nationality from Kenya to Qatar a year ago, clocked 2.12.20 in his debut marathon. He was formerly known as Richard Yatich. Japhet Kosgei (Kenya) was second with 2.15.15 while Henry Serem (Kenya/2.15.26) finished third.

Florence Barsosio won with a big margin of more than eight minutes. She clocked 2.31.40 while Eva-Maria Gradwohl (Austria) was second with 2.39.44. Ilona Barvanova (Ukraine/2.47.04) took third place. Both winners earned 10,000 Euros of prize money. About 21,500 runners took part in various races of the Vienna City Marathon, which was once more the biggest sporting event in the summer season in Austria. An estimated 250,000 spectators lined the streets in the city centre.

“Hot conditions made it difficult for the runners today. Taking this into account we can be happy with the race. A newcomer has beaten a number of experienced runners”, Vienna’s elite race director Mark Milde said. It had been warmer than expected already in the morning of the race. At the start temperatures had reached about 20 ° C. It continued to warm up, which slowed the race. “In cooler conditions I could have run 2.09 today”, Mubbarak Shami said. “But I felt very strong and did not fear running alone for a large part of the race.” After Shami had passed half way in 65.21 minutes he increased the pace. At first Japhet Kosgei and Degene Regassa Nigusse (Ethiopia) held on but when Shami ran some sub three minute splits between 25 and 30 k he was soon alone at front. Beyond 35 k Shami slowed but was in no danger of being caught again. The next race of the 24 year-old winner will be the World Championships’ marathon in Helsinki for which he qualified in Vienna. There were a number of prominent athletes who dropped out in the hot temperatures. Last year’s winner and course record holder Samson Kandie (Kenya/2.08.35) had been in the group chasing Shami but stopped at about 35 k. Vincent Kipsos (Kenya), the fastest man in the field with a PB of 2.06.52, and Boniface Usisivu (Kenya) dropped out as well. And the 1996 Olympic Champion Josia Thugwane (South Africa) did not make it either to the finish line. “I think the heat cost me five minutes”, Florence Barsosio said. The Kenyan aimed for a time of about 2.27 although she had already run the Paris Marathon in April, where she finished second. “At the end of the race I felt very tired.” The 28 year-old was running alone for most of the race since she had no pacemakers.

RESULTS,  MEN: 
1. Mubbarak  Shami             QAT                2.12.20 
2. Japhet  Kosgei                  KEN               2.15.15 
3. Henry  Serem                    KEN               2.15.26 
4. Lahoucine  Mrikik             MAR               2.15.45 
5. Richard  Mutai                   KEN                2.15.57 
6.  Maru-Shadrad Kipchirchir          KEN    2.16.18 
7. Degene-Rega  Nigusse   ETH                2.16.37 
8. Michael  Buchleitner         AUT                2.16.41 
WOMEN: 
1. Florence Barsosio           KEN               2.31.40 
2. Eva-Maria  Gradwohl       AUT                2.39.44 
3. Ilona  Barvanova               UKR               2.47.04