Kenya wins two gold medals in marathons at CWG
Kenya continued their long distance running dominance with two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in the men’s and women’s marathons Thursday morning. The races, which were run early in the day to avoid
the midday Delhi heat, completed the athletics portion of the Games.
Kenya won seven of eight Diamond Trophies in middle and long distance races as the Diamond League season concluded, and now they’ve finished the 2010 season by winning four out of six marathon medals at
the Commonwealth Games. Australia picked up the other two.
On the men’s side it was Kenyan John Ekiru Kelai, winner of this year’s Enschede Marathon in the Netherlands, taking the gold with a time of two hours 14.35 seconds. He finished 53 seconds ahead of Michael
Shelly of Australia. Taking the bronze was another Kenyan, Amos Tirop Matui, with a time of 2:15:58.
Shelly was in front for the first 25 minutes before tiring and losing the lead. He was well back of first with 12km to go, but managed to put himself into third as the racers nearer the finish line. From
there it was a close race between him and Matui with Shelly claiming the silver.
“It's awesome I can't believe it,” said Shelley. “I don't want to look at my feet I think I've got some blisters on there, oh well it's hurting. I can't believe it.”
For the women it was Irene Jerotich Kosgei of Kenya taking the gold medal, but not without difficulty. Early on in the race at a water station, Kosgei was accidently tripped by fellow racer Beata Naigambo
of Namibia. She fell back about 40m from the lead group, but was able to recover quickly and move into the lead.
Kosgei finished the race with a time of 2:34:32, only 11 seconds ahead of teammate Irene Kemunto Mogake. Taking the bronze medal was Lisa Weightman of Australia with a time of 2:35:25.
Weightman has been steadily improving as a marathoner. After a 33rd place finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and an 18th place finish at last year’s World Championships, Weightman
was looking to finish in the top three, possibly in first.
“It would have been wonderful to win a gold medal, I came out here to try and do that, but I got a bronze,” said Weightman. “I did everything I could on the day, my legs went at the end ... to go harder
was just not possible today.”
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