Posted: November 4, 2007

Athletics: Athens Classic Marathon picks up the pace, Kiprotich and Ponomarenko win the race

Kenyan Benjamin Korir Kiprotich and Russia’s Svetlana Ponomarenko won the 25th Athens Classic Marathon today. In mild weather conditions with temperatures around a maximum of 20° Celsius and an occasional light rain winning times were much faster than in the years before. Benjamin Korir Kiprotich clocked 2:14:40 on the classic route from Marathon to Athens’ Panathinaikon Stadium while Svetlana Ponomarenko crossed the line in 2:33:19. The jubilee edition of the Athens Classic Marathon saw a huge increase in runners compared to last year when there was a total of slightly over 5,000 athletes. Adding all races this year the figure was up to 7,950. Among them were 4,750 marathon runners. Abel Anton, Spains marathon World Champion from Athens 1997 and Seville 1999, took the opportunity to take part in the 10 k race. Kenyans had won the Athens Classic Marathon three times in a row. And they dominated the race again today, extending their win streak. Eight of them formed the leading group when the half way point was passed in 68:07 minutes. At about 35 k Benjamin Korir Kiprotich broke away and opened a decisive gap. “I had tried to get away earlier. But then I decided to relax a bit more and let the others catch me again. I was sure that I would win the race,” said the 29 year-old who ran a personal best of 2:10:43 earlier this year when he finished third in Brescia. “I will now prepare for a big spring marathon. And it is my aim to run a time between 2:07 and 2:08,” said Benjamin Korir Kiprotich. Kenyans Hosea Kiptanui Kimutai (2:15:03) and defending champion Henry Tarus (2:15:57) took second and third in Athens while Georgios Karavidas finished tenth in 2:23:51, taking the Greek championship. In the women’s race the big favourite took the honours: Svetlana Ponomarenko had passed half way in 1:15:56. The 37 year-old, who had won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2006 and has a personal best of 2:29:55, ran a very consistent pace. “The weather was fine for me. I would now like to qualify for Beijing next year,” said Svetlana Ponomarenko. Chihiro Tanaka (Japan) took second in 2:41:01, followed by the new Greek champion Magdalini Gazea (2:41:31). Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest