5 OCTOBER 2008: KOSICE PEACE MARATHON, SLOVAKIA

Dejene Yirdawe dominated the 85th edition of Europe's oldest Marathon held in cold conditions (8-10°C) and strong winds (up to 8m/s) writes Alfons Juck.

Yirdawe increased the pace after the 24km, and left pacemaker David Makori behind en route to a solo sub-2:11 time, the second fastest run on this course after last year's course record 2:09:53 by Kenyan William Biama. It was Yirdawe's third Marathon and he became the third Ethiopian male to win in Kosice after such legends as Abebe Bikila (1961) and Demissie Wolde (1969). In a close battle for second three Kenyans finished within eight seconds of each other.

"It was great race for me, without the wind I think I would have been able to run under 2:09," Yirdawe said. The first four recorded times among the six best ever in Kosice.

The top three women registered new personal bests. Winner Selina Chelimo, in her fifth Marathon, ran the third fastest ever in Kosice. It was also the first Kenyan female victory here. A pair of Ethiopians, finishing second and third, debuted well in difficult windy conditions.

Slovak national champion Imrich Pastor (also best European) defended his title in ninth, and surprisingly Ingrid Petnuchova in sixth became the sixth fastest Slovak woman of all-time. In total more than 4000 runners from 34 countries competed in all races and categories.

MEN:
1  Dejene YIRDAWE             ETH  2:10:51
2  Jonathan KIBET                  KEN  2:12:23
3  Joseph MUTISO                   KEN  2:12:25
4  Sammy ROTICH                  KEN  2:12:31
5  Benson CHERUIYOT             KEN  2:15:56
6  Hussan ADELO                    ETH  2:16:21
7  Joseph LAGAT                    KEN  2:16:46
8  Philip BANDAWE                  ZIM  2:24:13
9  Imrich PASTOR                   SVK  2:26:05
10 William KIPTOO                  KEN  2:26:09 

WOMEN:
1  Selina CHELIMO               KEN  2:34:23
2  Firehiwot DADO                  ETH  2:37:34
3  Radiya ADLO                       ETH  2:39:21 
4  Eunice KORIR                      KEN  2:42:34
5  Mariya BUTAKOVA               BLR  2:46:15
6  Ingrid PETNUCHOVA             SVK  2:48:23
7  Ivana MARTINCOVA              CZE  2:49:24
8  Nataliya LEHONCOVA            UKR  2:53:06
9  Valentina DELION                  MDA  2:53:46 
10 Silvia SEBESTIAN                  SVK  3:07:50
 
HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1  Miroslave VANKO              SVK  1:09:53
2  Michal LAMI                         SVK  1:14:02
3  Anatoliy MALYY                    UKR  1:14:04
 
WOMEN:
1  Katarina BERESOVA           SVK  1:18:05
2  Zuzana KOROTVICKOVA        SVK  1:29:02
3  Slavka PAVUKOVA                 SVK  1:29:19

AIMS