Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994 TAG: 9404190075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON LENGTH: Medium
Under ideal weather conditions, Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya smashed the record in defending his men's title and Uta Pippig of Germany broke the women's record.
In addition, Bob Kempainen, a 27-year-old medical student at Minnesota, broke the American record in finishing seventh on a day in which temperatures reached the mid-50s and runners took advantage of a 19 mph tailwind.
"I was not aiming to get a fast first or second half. I was only concentrating on the pace other people were running," Ndeti said.
He covered the 26 miles, 385 yards in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 15 seconds - 36 seconds better than Rob de Castella's race record set in 1986. Ndeti's time was the fifth fastest ever and the fastest in the world in six years. It was only 25 seconds off the world best of 2:06:50, set by Belayneh Densimo of Ethiopia at Rotterdam in 1988.
Pippig, crying for joy after finishing, won in 2:21:45. She broke the women's record of 2:22:43, set by Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1983, and moved into third place on the all-time list, 39 seconds behind the world-best of 2:21:06 set by Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen at London in 1985.
"If I had not done well, I would have cried [in disappointment]," said Pippig, who had the flu last week. "I took it very seriously.
"I thought about the record with about three-four miles left. But I really tired at miles 25 and 26, and I just wanted to finish. I said, `C'mon, just win.' I trained for a 2:22. So this was a good run. I need maybe one or two good years to break the [world record]."
The Boston layout is considered difficult because of its undulating terrain and notorious Heartbreak Hill, which crests at 230 feet at mile 21. Monday, the perfect weather and strong men's and women's fields combined to get the better of the course.
In winning for the second consecutive year, Ndeti became the fourth straight Kenyan champion. Countryman Ibrahim Hussein, won in 1991 and 1992.
While the course records fell, so did the American record. Kempainen, the runner-up at New York last November, was timed in 2:08:47, breaking the mark of 2:08:52 set by Alberto Salazar at Boston in 1982.
Ndeti held off late-charging Andres Espinosa of Mexico, the 1993 New York City Marathon champion. The Kenyan won by four seconds, the fourth closest finish in the race.
Ndeti ran an almost identical race to the one a year ago, biding his time over the first half before surging to the front. He seized the lead for good just before 22 miles, overtaking Boay Akonay of Tanzania.
by CNB