10 APRIL 2011: MILANO CITY MARATHON, ITALY

Running in unseasonably warm conditions Solomon Bushendich won the 11th edition of the Milano City Marathon a minute ahead of Ruggero Pertile writes Diego Sampaolo. The 27°C heat took a dramatic toll in the women's race as Marcella Mancini overtook Monica Wangari as she struggled along at 5 minutes per kilometre pace in the final stages.

Kenyan pacemaker Nickson Kurgat and Gilbert Chepkwony set the early pace passing five kilometres in 15:01 and the 10km in 30:37 leading over a group which featured Daniel Limo, Daniel Too, Joel Kimurer Kemboi, Bushendich and Pertile.

Pacemaker Gilbert Chepkwony led through halfway in 1:04:50 and finished his duties at 30km (1:32:35), leaving Bushendich, Pertile, Daniel Too and Daniel Limo at the front. Bushendich broke away with a 33rd kilometre clocked at 2:56 and continued to increase his lead. In the fight for second place Too tried to pull away from Pertile at 38km but the Italian responded, and went ahead at 40km. "The conditions were difficult" said Pertile, "but running on a warm day was a good test for the World Championships in Daegu".

Wangari led the women's race by over two minutes at halfway (1:14:21 to 1:16:45), and extended it to over three minutes at 30km (1:47:13 to 1:51:25) but began to fade after 34km, running 5:20 for the 39th kilometre. Mancini closed the gap and took the lead with 2km to go.

While the conditions did not allow for fast times, the sunny weather was the backdrop to a marvellous running day for a record figure of 10,203 runners who took part in the two main events: 5075 in the Marathon and 5128 in the second edition of the Relay Marathon.

AIMSworldrunning.org

MEN:
1  Solomon Naibei BUSHENDICH KEN  2:10:38
2  Ruggero PERTILE                  ITA  2:11:23
3  Daniel Too KIPRUGUT            KEN  2:12:04
4  Daniel Kiprugut TOO              KEN  2:13:40
5  Joel Kemboi KIMURER            KEN  2:15:48

WOMEN: 
1  Marcella MANCINI                     ITA  2:41.24
2  Monica WANGARI                 KEN  2:42:56
3  Stefania BENEDETTI             ITA  2:45:20