C&D XIAMEN INTERNATIONAL MARATHON, CHINA – a fascinating duel to develop between Zhu Hong Li and Kenya’s Haron Toroitich, in which Li powered away over the final 800m.

Xiao Lin Zhu ran solo from gun to tape to win the women’s race in a very impressive time under very oppressive conditions. At the 08.00 start of the race it was already 20°C, and the temperature rose steadily while humidity was over 80%. By contrast, the men’s pace wilted under the conditions but nonetheless allowed a fascinating duel to develop between Zhu Hong Li and Kenya’s Haron Toroitich, in which Li powered away over the final 800m.

From outside the Xiamen Convention Centre a combined field of 25,000 took 20 minutes to clear the start as elite runners of the marathon and joggers in the half marathon finally gave way to large fancy-dressed groups who walked for much of the 10km and 5km events. The lead group set out along the corniche road which rings Xiamen Island towards the centre of town. They began ambitiously, at 2:09 pace, but soon moderated their ambitions. After 16km the course turns away from the coast for a loop around the centre of the city, where dense crowds of spectators lined the streets. Perhaps lifted by the cheers Li went ahead of the group, along with a pacemaker, and led by some 20m at halfway.

Meshak Kirwa and Toroitich caught him at 23.8km and by 25km it was Li’s turn to drop back. Conditions were by now making themselves felt, and as the lead pair dropped their pace to a 3’25“ kilometre Li found himself back alongside them at 28.3km. As they returned along the coastal ring road Li and Toroitich pulled clear of Kirwa, who lagged them by 30m at 30km.

Li repeatedly tried to surge from 34km onward but nothing he could do would shake Toroitich off. It looked like Toroitich was waiting his moment to strike, but as they turned off the coast road towards the finish line with 800m to run the vociferous home crowd roused Li’s competitive spirit and he charged past Toroitich to win by some 50m.

MEN:
1 Zhu Hong LI CHN 2:13:17
2 Haron TOROITICH KEN 2:13:25
3 Meshak KIRWA KEN 2:15:47
4 Julius SUGUT KEN 2:16:37
5 Yun Shan ZHEN CHN 2:18:15
6 Robert MANGIUSHO KEN 2:19:08
7 Long Yun REN CHN 2:19:14
8 Philip BIRECH KEN 2:19:45

WOMEN:
1 Xiao Lin ZHU CHN 2:26:07
2 Wei Wei SUN CHN 2:29:27
3 Shu Jin ZHENG CHN 2:31:14
4 Yin Yin ZHENG CHN 2:36:52
5 Shawuti NUERGULI CHN 2:37:53
6 Yin Yin ZHU CHN 2:38:16
7 Wen Qin SUN CHN 2:39:50
8 Emily SAMOIE KEN 2:40:18

HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1 Fu Liang WANG CHN 1:10:18
2 Lei FEN CHN 1:11:26
3 Zhen LIN CHN 1:14:51

WOMEN:
1 Xue Xia HUNG CHN 1:17:27
2 Gi LI CHN 1:22:18
3 Xiao Qin WU CHN 1:25:33

Source:
AIMS
www.aimsassociation.org