Download pdf - Distance Running magazine

ResultMEN:1 John ROTICH KEN 2:15:432 Habtamu BEKELE ETH 2:16:233 Reuben TOROITICH KEN 2:16:374 Ayale SATENG ISR 2:16:595 Opnesmus MUTISYA KEN 2:18:346 Philemon BOIT KEN 2:18:577 Asaf BIMRO ISR 2:19:188 Geoffrey TERER KEN 2:22:109 Isiah KOSGEI KEN 2:23:3810 Destao SEWONACH ISR 2:23:40WOMEN:1 Nili ABRAMSKI ISR 2:54:492 Orna BELOW ISR 2:56:473 Seraw MENICHEL ETH 3:02:434 Loris MENDELOVICH ISR 3:07:525 Maya KARMI ISR 3:11:286 Ronit YUDASHKIN ISR 3:20:197 Mirit MISRACHI ISR 3:24:238 Sintya ITZCHAKI ISR 3:24:289 Galya AMDOR ISR 3:26:5310 Lila FRENKEL ISR 3:32:31who ran 2:12:45 in 2003 and TheCzech Maria Starowska, who wonboth the 13th and 15th editions ofthe race and in the latter (1992)ran 2:34:17.and Kenya. This year a closebattle developed during the firsthalf of the race. The first 10kmwas passed in 31:24. Windyconditions developed around theturn which slowed the leadinggroup of nine runners to 1:08:22 athalfway. Then at around 30km theKenyan John Rotich began toopen up a gap that graduallywidened. He finished in 2:15:43,the ninth fastest time ever postedin this Marathon.Habtamu Bekele from Ethiopia,winner of the two previouseditions, was denied his hat-trick.This feat has been achieved byLindsay Robertson (GBR) in the8th, 9th and 11th editions, andAhmed Hussein (ETH) who wonthe 14th, 17th and 18th ones.Bekele followed Rotich in aheadof Kenya's Reuben Torotich andIsrael's 2004 Olympicrepresentative Haile Satayin.Satayin was himself an immigrantfrom Ethiopia and at a reportedage of 50, ran 2:16:59.The absence of female eliterunners this year, facilitated aneasy victory by Israel's otherOlympic runner Nili Abramski. The36-year old won her seventhvictory in what was for her a slowtime. She first won a decade agoand has taken six wins in the lastseven editions. The course recordsbelong to Taye Moges of KenyaFor the last 12 years a 12km racehas been added, attracting manyrunners. With the prospects of amore peaceful atmosphere in themid-east and increasedinternational involvement thisunique sporting event, theMarathon of Tiberias, is eyeing thenear future with hope.The next Tiberias Marathon willbe held on 4 January, 2007.DISTANCE RUNNING April - June 200617