Kenya's Wanjiru wins men's marathon; Japan's Ogata 13th

Sunday 24th August, 01:23 PM JST

BEIJING —

Kenya’s Samuel Wanjiru set a new Olympic record to win the men’s marathon while Japan’s Tsuyoshi Ogata could only manage 13th place on the final day of the Beijing Games on Sunday. Japan-based Wanjiru took advantage of the absence of Ethiopia’s world record holder Haile Gebrselassie to cruise home in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds and give Kenya its first-ever Olympic men’s marathon gold.

Two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco won the silver in 2:07:16 while Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede followed in third to claim the bronze in 2:10:00.

‘‘In Kenya we have many medals but I’m glad to have this one,’’ said Wanjiru, the world half marathon record holder. ‘‘It feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold.’’

Ogata clocked 2:13:26 while compatriot Atsushi Sato timed 2:41:08 for 76th place. Satoshi Osaki, who had been set to make his Olympic debut here, on Saturday pulled out of the race because of injury.

‘‘I did to some degree expect it to be a high-paced race but as I could not get in a good position at the start it was all I could do to try to improve my placing,’’ said Ogata. ‘‘The fact that I could not mix it (with the world’s top runners) has really hit home.’’

Wanjiru ran for much of the fast-paced race in humid conditions alongside Gharib and Ethiopian Deriba Merga but peeled away with around six kilometers remaining and never looked back.

‘‘I had to push the race to tire the other runners,’’ said Wanjiru. ‘‘I had to push the race because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down.’’

‘‘With six kilometers left I tried to push. It was hard but they didn’t keep up.’’

Gebrselassie, who suffers from asthma, announced in March he would not compete in the marathon in Beijing because he feared the Chinese capital’s air pollution would harm his health.

Wire reports

Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

NICOLE77 at 01:37 PM JST - 24th August

Very Proud of the fellow Fukuoka local! Congratulations!!
NICOLE77 at 01:39 PM JST - 24th August

Sorry if i confused... Wanjiru has lived in japan for 7 years and currently resides in Fukuoka ;)
TheNewZen at 01:40 PM JST - 24th August

In my MA class we take our newcomers out for a 10mile run, the winner is the last guy to cross the line as he had the hardest struggle to finish.

Marathons are tough and kudos go to all.
rajakumar at 02:29 PM JST - 24th August

Way to go Kenya/Wanjiru.
ProudKoreanGuy at 02:33 PM JST - 24th August

Not surprisingly, it's an African who won.
Pukey2 at 03:13 PM JST - 24th August

Gebrselassie, who suffers from asthma, announced in March he would not compete in the marathon in Beijing because he feared the Chinese capital’s air pollution would harm his health.

He recently said he regretted that decision. Seeing that the first two men today broke the Olympic record, I bet he's even more disappointed! Yes, so much (again) for the fears of a dirty, smog-filled, humid, boiling hot day.

I'm glad NHK actually interviewed Wanjiru. I haven't seen them bother to interview any other foreigner. (though his being able to speak Japanese reassured the NHK guys).

Didn't realize Kenya had never won this event.

I think everybody who finished the marathon is a winner and a hero

No doubt about that. Even those who didn't get a medal were really fast.
pathat at 04:04 PM JST - 24th August

The U.S. had two runners finish in the top-10 for the first time since 1976-#9 and #10 respectively. Good job!

‘‘In Kenya we have many medals but I’m glad to have this one,’’ said Wanjiru, the world half marathon record holder. ‘‘It feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold.’’

Congratulations, Samuel Wanjiru!
Pukey2 at 07:14 PM JST - 24th August

What arrogance! On the news, Samuel's Jp coach(?) was saying that he told Samuel he would do better if he followed the Japanese way of marathon training. Samuel thanked the Japanese in the NHK interview at the stadium - I wonder whether he said that himself or whether he was prompted to say a message to the Japanese people. I just knew the Japanese media would somehow try and get Japan some credit for this win.

And following that, an interview with the Jp sych swimming pair. They said they were glad to beat the Chinese. Too bad they couldn't be bothered to beat the top two pair.

Now that the Olympics are closing, watch out for the highlights and repeats. And when I say highlights and repeats, that does NOT include foreign participants - they're irrelevant. Enjoy.

Anyone know where we can get an unbiased DVD of the Olympic highlights? God, I hope I can watch the 2012 Olympics in another country.

Sarge: I just realized, I can't remember the last time I saw the Brazilian teams on Japanese TV. The Brazilian women deserved that win. When I saw them destroy the Chinese team (though not as much as they walloped the Japanese team), I knew they were heading for gold.
LSteven at 07:25 PM JST - 24th August

Congratulations Wanjiru! I saw that marathon race in its entirety and thought, what a strong finish! You've done Kenya proud.

I also thought Ndereba did a fantastic job of getting the silver for the women, in a race I also saw on TV in its entirety.

And let's not forget that exciting steeplechase finish by Kipruto and even having Mateelong capture the bronze of the Kenyans. Wow! I loved watching that race. Good job for you all!
flammenwerfer at 07:58 PM JST - 24th August

Atsushi Sato timed 2:41:08 for 76th place.

76th and the wooden spoon, ouch, at least he finished though, many dropped out of the race. Pukey2 I have been watching torrents of the olympics from Australia and England, it has been great!
presto345 at 08:10 PM JST - 24th August

A great accomplishment. But I was puzzled a Japanese-African resident, or is it African-Japanese resident ,won the race for Kenya. . .
NICOLE77 at 01:15 AM JST - 25th August

On tonights news the announcers introduced him as the Kenyan born, raised in Japan athlete... I know he came here when he was 15 - but I would hardly say that qualifies him as 'raised' in Japan. Trained in /and current resident of Japan may be more correct...
presto345 at 05:04 PM JST - 25th August

Raised in Japan from the age of 15 . . .
HonestDictator at 01:28 AM JST - 26th August

It was a good race and I'm really glad all his training paid off. The conditions were pretty good and he had some good heat and humidity training enough to keep the lead to the very end. WOOT go Wanjiru! Kenya's got some gold :D.
rajakumar at 03:26 AM JST - 26th August

Way to go Kenya/samuel wanjiru.