Sport
London 2012: Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia wins marathon gold and breaks record
Shalane Flanagan was the top U.S. finisher in 10th place, 2:44 behind Gelana. Right behind her in 11th was Kara Goucher, who trains with Flanagan in Portland, Oregon.
While these were actually favorable running conditions, not too hot, quite a few runners dropped out of the race:
Liliya Shobukhova of Russia, a top contender, stopped halfway through the race with a right leg ailment.
British runner Mara Yamauchi’s day ended about five miles into the competition because of a bruised heel.
American Desiree Davila of Rochester Hills, Mich., went out at the end of the first loop with a nagging hip injury.
Tetyana Filonyuk of Ukraine barely went 100 meters, — about as far as Usain Bolt & Co. will sprint later on the track, before calling it a day. There was no reason given.
Jeptoo and teammate Mary Keitany were among the runners who stuck by Gelana for most of the race. Keitany was one of the favorites after winning the London Marathon earlier this year. But this course was much different and Keitany faded near the finish.
Still, Jeptoo tried to encourage her teammate, even grabbing Keitany a water bottle late in the race. Keitany finished fourth.
Before this race, Gelana’s biggest win was the Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands last April, when she finished in 2:18:58 to set a national record.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
