Chicago Marathon 2009 Results: Wanjiru wins in CR

Right now, I am following the event live on Universal Sports, and it is well past the half way mark. Will post the results immediately after they are available. As per the latest news, the leading group is going out at almost world record pace, including Sammy Wanjiru and Vincent Kipruto, with the 28KM mark being reached in 1:22:26, with a projected finish time in the range of 2:04:15. If they stay together for some more time, getting this down to 2:03:58 might still be possible!

Not too long to go now, lets hold on folks, this is going really good and fast!

Okay final results are in, Wanjiru wins in a course record of 2:05:41, Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco second 23 seconds behind, and Kenyan Vincent Kipruto third another 4 seconds behind. More soon.

Sammy Wanjiru continues his unabated domination of the marathon distance with another great win at the Chicago marathon under some good weather conditions, and in the process setting a new course record of 2:05:41, just one second below Khalid Khannouchi’s existing mark of 2:05:42 set about 10 years back in 1999! Wow, just amazing to see such a record start for so long, goes to show just how tough it has been to go below the 2:05 mark, which is still a rarity! This time was also an American record. This was Wanjiru’s fourth marathon victory in five attempts at the distance, speaks volume for the level of domination which Wanjiru has over the distance.

Wanjiru was on his own in the last 10KM of the distance. It was Wanjiru-Kipruto 1-2 for most of the distance, but the Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri charged towards the end to pip Kipruto to 2nd spot. The initial part of the race was a three man affair with Wanjiru, Kipruto and another Kenyan Charles Munyeki running together to the halfway mark with the pacemakers, just 3 seconds off the world record pace at 1:02:01. The Moroccan Goumri joined the group taking advantage of the slowing tempo in the latter half as race tactics came into the picture.

In the women’s race, it was the Russian Liliya Shobukhova who won the event in 2:25:55, defeating the much fancied German Irina Mikitenko, the London marathon 2009 winner by 36 seconds (2:26:31) after overtaking her towards the end. Defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia was third in 2:26:47.

45,000 runners participated in the Chicago Marathon this year. Complete timing results at the official results page.

Results summary:
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