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NEW YORK (17-May) -- Given that it was his first trip to the United States, Patrick Makau wanted to make sure it was a memorable one. So, on a glorious spring morning in Central Park here, the silver medalist from last year's IAAF World Road Running Championships bolted from the start of the 4th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K to attack Dathan Ritzenhein's one year-old course record. A $20,000 bonus awaited him at the finish line if he could break 28:08, a very solid mark considering the difficulty of the course.
"The course record is not so hard," Makau said at the pre-race press conference last Thursday.
The 23 year-old Kenyan from Ngong rocketed through the first mile --which is uphill-- in 4:23, instantly opening up a big gap on the field. Makau didn't let up, running the second mile in 4:24 and the third (which includes a significant climb in the north end of the park) in 4:31. By the time he hit the 5-K in 13:51 he was 23 seconds up on Ritzenhein's record.
"We realized he has some work cut out for him," said New York Road Runners president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg, after observing Makau's fast first half from the lead vehicle. She added: "This is a course of patience."
Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos, the 2006 ING New York City Marathon champion, was the only athlete who could see Makau in front of him, running 17 seconds behind through 5-K. Early in the fourth mile, which features a long and gradual uphill, Makau shot a glance over his left shoulder to see where Gomes was. The Kenyan was beginning to fade.
"It was very hard for me," said Makau of trying to push the pace alone.
Makau reached the four mile mark in 18:10 (4:52), and was still 13 seconds up on Ritzenhein's record. Unfortunately, Makau wasn't able to take full advantage of the big downhill in the fifth mile which Ritzenhein covered in 4:20 last year; Makau ran 4:31 instead. His pace continued to slow (4:37 for the sixth mile) and the uphill finish to Tavern on the Green was just too much for the young Kenyan. He breasted the tape in 28:19, the third fastest time in the history of the race.
"I ran the course very well," said a mostly satisfied Makau who won $7,500 in prize money.
Gomes dos Santos held on for second in 28:31 ($5,000), and Kenya's Richard Kiplagat finished third in 29:08 ($3,000). The top USA finisher was Jason Hartmann of Eugene, Ore., Ritzenhein's training partner, who finished tenth in 29:38.
Organizers recorded a race record 6,273 finishers, up from 5,413 last year, making it the largest race in Central Park so far this year.
Top Finishers:
1. Patrick Makau, 23, KEN, 28:19
2. Marilson Gomes dos Santos, 30, BRA, 28:31
3. Richard Kiplagat, 27, KEN, 29:08
4. Wegayehu Girma Tefera, 19, ETH, 29:20
5. Worku Beyi, 21, ETH, 29:22
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