|
LIVE - The race
|
Tolosa and Kosgei surprise!
In the 28th edition of the Paris Marathon, Ethiopia’s Ambesa Tolosa surprised the men’s field by clinching success in the Paris marathon. In a time of 2h08min56, Tolosa beat race favourite Raymond Kipkoech and Paul Biwott. In the women’s race, the surprise came from Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei (a newcomer on the event) in 2h24min32, ahead of Gigi and Raux. Switzerland’s Heinz Frei won the wheelchair event.
In excellent weather conditions (sunny and no rain), the 30 430 competitors of the Paris marathon took off this morning at 8h45 (8h30 for the wheelchair race) for the 42.195 kms of the Parisian course.
Ethiopian surprise
In the men’s race, the Kenyan pace-makers took off, as expected, in an extremely fast pace. Up to the 16th kilometre, the leading group of about 20 runners were running at a rhythm of well under 3 minutes per kilometre. After the halfway mark, the leading pack with Kipkoech, Ruto, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Tarus, Melese, Marwa, Losian, Maiyo, Biwott and only one non-African runner in Brazil’s Marilson Dos Santos were in a time of 1h06min41.
As expected the pace dropped down and the real fight among the favourites started. At km 30, only six men were left in the leading bunch. Eight kilometres later, there were only two runners in the lead. Two men for victory: Kenya’s Raymond Kipkoech, race favourite after his fantastic victory in the 2003 Berlin marathon in 2h06min47 and newcomer on the discipline Ambesa Tolosa from Ethiopia. At km 38, Tolosa decided to take off, slowly breaking away from his main rival.
On the finish line the Ethiopian managed a time of 2h08min56, 1min11 ahead of Kipkoech while another Kenyan Paul Biwott settled with third spot at 1min33. Times that could have been faster if it wasn't for the strong face winds on the second half of course.
The first Frenchman, Hakim Bagy, clocked a final time of 2h13min12 in 8th spot, not good enough to book his ticket for Athens.
Kosgei: first marathon, first victory…
In the women’s race, the battle for success started after only a few kilometres between Kenya’s Salina Kosgei and Ethiopian Asha Gigi. Together for most of the race, the Kenyan eventually made the decisive move at km 31. From 45sec at km 34, the gap moved up to 2min33 on the finish line of the Foch Avenue. Kosgei clinching victory in her very first marathon in a final time of 2h24min32.
Third spot went to the delighted Corinne Raux of France in a personal best time of 2h29min17 (the third best French performer). The French runner (already a winner in her first marathon at the Mont Saint-Michel) beats her record by over 7minutes and clinches a spot for the Athens Olympics.
Frei wins the wheelchair event
The handisport wheelchair race went to Switzerland’s Heinz Frei. In a winning time of 1h37min43, the World record holder beat Denmark’s Thomas Gerlach and France’s Alain Fuss while five-time Paris marathon winner Joel Jeannot had to settle for fourth spot after suffering three punctures.
11:23 - Raux third of the women's race
Corinne Raux finishes third in a time of 2h29min19. A time that will allow her to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
11:12 - Gigi second of the women's race
Ethiopia's Asha Gigi finishes second, 2min31 behind the day's winner, Kosgei.
11:10 - Kosgei wins the women's race
In a time of 2h24min31, Salina Kosgei of Kenya clinches the victory in the women's Paris marathon.
11:06 - Kosgei at km 41
Salina Kosgei is just a few kilometres away from her first Paris marathon victory. The Kenyan is at km 41 in 2h20min13.
11:02 - Kosgei at km 40
In a time of 2h16min36, Salina Kosgei has made it alone at km 40.
11:00 - Kosgei at km 39
At km 39, Kosgei leads the women's race in 2h12min58.
10:59 - Men's podium
The men's podium : Tolosa, Kipkoech, Biwott...
10:57 - Kosgei at km 38
In the women's race, Kosgei is at km 38 in 2h09min18.
10:55 - Tolosa wins the Paris Marathon
In a time of 2h08min53, Ambesa Tolosa of Ethiopia wins the Paris marathon. Second is Kipkoech at 1min12.
10:53 - Kosgei at km 37
At km 37, Kosgei leads the women's race in 2h05min37. Gigi is at 1min30.
10:51 - Tolosa at km 41
Tolosa is at km 41 in 2h05min31. Kipkoech is 40sec adrift.
10:49 - Tolosa alone at km 40
Ambesa Tolosa is at km 40 in 2h02min38. Second is Kipkoech at 20sec.
10:48 - Kosgei at km 36
Kosgei is in the lead of the women's race at km 36 in 2h02min03.
10:45 - Tolosa at km 39
At km 39, Tolosa is in 1h59min41.
10:45 - Tolosa breaks away.
After km 38, Ethiopia's Ambesa Tolosa has taken the lead of the race alone. Kipkoech has dropped back.
10:43 - Kosgei at km 34
At km 34, Kosgei has a 45sec lead on Gigi.
10:39 - Men at km 37
At km 37, the four leading men have clocked a time of 1h53min07.
10:43 - 2 men in the lead
The leading men's group is breaking apart. Tolosa (Eth) and Kipkoech (Ken) have broken away. At km 38, their time : 1h56min36.
10:38 - Kosgei still leads women's race
At km 33, Kenya's Kosgei still leads the women's marathon in 1h51min30. 32sec adrift is Gigi.
10:37 - Dos Santos drops back
After km 36, Brasil's Marilson Dos Santos has been dropped. There are now only four men leading the race.
10:36 - Men at km 36
The five leading men are at km 36 in 1h50min13.
10:34 - 5 men together at km 35
At km 35, five men are together in 1h46min36 (Kipkoech, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Biwott and Dos Santos).
10:33 - 5 men together at km 35
At km 35, five men are together in 1h46min36 (Kipkoech, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Biwott and Dos Santos).
10:31 - Kosgei alone in the lead
Kenyan Salina Kosgei has taken the lead of the women's race, 6sec ahead of Gigi at km 31 (1h44min29)
10:24 - Men at km 32, women at km 29
The leading men are at km 32 in 1h37min28. The women are at km 29 in 1h37min32.
10:22 - The six leaders...
The six leading men: Kipkoech, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Losian, Biwott and Dos Santos.
10:21 - Men at km 31
The leading group is at km 31 in 1h34min20. Melese has been dropped.
10:20 - Ladies at km 28
Gigi and Kosgei are still fighting it out together in the women's race, at km 28 in 1h34min05.
10:18 - Ochoro drops back
Now only six men in the leading group... Ochoro has been dropped.
10:18 - Men at km 30
Added to the 6 leading runners is pace-maker Stanely Ochoro... He was supposed to stop at km 20. The leaders are at km 30 in 1h31min06.
10:16 - Men at km 29
The same 6 men lead the race at km 29 in 1h27min56.
10:13 - Heinz Frei wins wheelchair race
Switzerland's Heinz Frei has won the handisport wheelchair race.
10:10 - Ladies at km 25
In the women's race, Gigi and Kosgei are at km 25 in 1h23min37.
10:10 - 6 men at km 27
Six runners lead the men's race at km 27 in 1h21min35.
10:07 - Ladies at km 24
Gigi and Kosgei lead the women's race at km 24 in 1h20min13.
10:07 - Men at km 26
The leading men's group is at km 26 in 1h18min32. In the group : Kipkoech, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Melese, Biwott and Dos Santos.
10:05 - Kipkoech back in the group
Kipkoech has been caught but the leading group is breaking apart. There are now only 7 runners in the leading group.
10:02 - Off goes Kipkoech
Kenyan Raymond Kipkoech has broken away from the leading group after the 25th kilometre. His time at km 25: 1h15min31.
10:01 - Ladies at km 22
Asha Gigi and Salina Kosgei are together leading the race at km 22 in 1h13min31.
09:59 - Men at km 24
At km 24: Kipkoech, Ruto, Cheruiyot, Tolosa, Tarus, Melese, Marwa, Losian, Maiyo, Biwott, Dos Santos are together in 1h12min31.
09:57 - Halfway mark for leading ladies.
The ladies have made it to the halfway mark in 1h10min22.
09:56 - Men at km 23
The leading group with 8 Kenyans, Ethiopians and Brasil's Dos Santos (the only non African) are at km 23 in 1h09min24.
09:53 - Men at km 22
In a time of 1h06min25, the leading men are km 22.
09:52 - Ladies at km 20
The two leading women Gigi and Kosgei are at km 20 in 1h06min41, still together.
09:49 - Halfway mark for the men
After the first half of the race, the leading men are in 1h03min25.
09:47 - Men at km 20
The leading men are at km 20 in 1h00min13
09:46 - Men at km 19
The leading men's group is at km 19 in 57min11 with the three kenyan pace-makers, race favourite Raymond Kipkoech, Brasil's Marilson Dos Santos (winner of the Sao Paolo corrida) and around 10 other runners.
09:43 - Men at km 18, women at km 17
Leading men at km 18 in 54min09. The leading ladies are at km 17 in 56min42.
09:40 - Women at km 15
Gigi and Kosgei, still together are at km 15 in 49min44.
09:40 - Men at km 17
The leading men are in 51min12 at km 17. Frenchman Sghyr was dropped after km 14.
09:36 - Men at km 16
At km 16, the leading men's group are in a time of 47min54. So far, the favourites are in an average of under 3min/km...
09:33 - Men at km 15
Leading men at km 15 in 44min45...
09:26 - Gigi and Kosgei at km 12
Gigi and Kosgei still lead the women's race together in 39min36 at km 12.
09:25 - Men at km 13
The leading men's group is at km 13 in 38min46.
09:23 - Ladies at km 10
In the women's race, Gigi and Kosgei are still together in a time of 32min59.
09:22 - 35min46 at km 12
At km 12, the leading group including race favourite Kipkoech are on a time of 35min46.
09:20 - Men at km 11
At km 11, the main favourites are still bunched in a time of 32min47.
09:17 - Gigi and Kosgei lead women's race
Meanwhile in the ladies race two ladies are together in the lead : Gigi (Ethiopia) and Kosgei (Kenya).
09:16 - Leaders at km 10
Still about 15 runners together at km 10 in an astonishing time of 29min39.
09:07 - Leading group at km 7
The leading men (aournd 20 runners) with favourite Raymond Kipkoech, Marilson Dos Santos, Sghyr are at km 7 of the race.
09:01 - Leaders at km 3
A few minutes ago, the leading men (including Kipkoech, Behar and Sghyr) made it to km 3 in 8min45
08:58 - Gigi leads at km 1
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Gigi leads after the 1st kilometre in 3min10
08:49 - First km...
The leading group has made it to the 1st km mark in 3min.
08:46 - They're off!
At 8h45, the elite race has started... Close to 35 000 on the streets of Paris.
09:11 - Times at km 8
After 8kms, the leading runners led by the Kenyan pace-makers (Omwoyo, Boen, Ochoro) have clocked a time 23min42.
08:42 - Jeannot the favourite...
Joel Jeannot appears to be the big favourite for the wheelchair event. He's off for a possible sixth crown in Paris.
08:36 - Start of the wheelchair race
At 8h30, the handisport race has officially taken off on the Champs-Elysees avenue.
08:30 - Perfect conditions... so far!
A few minutes from the start of the race, the weather conditions appear to be perfect : bright sun, slight wind... and the rain has stopped.
08:25 - On your marks
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Paris marathon. In a few minutes (8h45), the big start of this 28th edition of the race.
|
|
