McClatchy Washington Bureau

Print This Article

BEIJING - Samuel Wansiru doesn't look the part of punishing warrior, standing 5-foot-4 and 112 pounds.

Saturday, he showed the world, powering to victory in the men's marathon and shattering the Olympic record in the process.

Wansiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan, completed the 26-mile, 385-yard run in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds. By the time he entered the tunnel leading into "Bird's Nest" National Stadium for the final 600-plus meters, he knew victory was his.

"The conditions were very good, a little humid," Wansiru said. "I was able to pull away because I had enough power and speed to overcome it."

His final lap was more victory lap than finishing kick as he smiled and waved to the crowd.

The former Olympic record of 2:09:21 was set by Portugal's Carlos Lopes at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Morocco's Jaouad Gharib, the world champion in 2003 and 2005, also broke the record but finished half a lap back of Wansiru in 2:07.16.

Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia passed countryman Deriba Merga with about 250 meters left to claim the bronze medal in 2:10.00.

Merga held off a charging Martin Lel of Kenya by three seconds, placing fourth in 2:10.21.

Two Americans finished in the top 10. Dathan Ritzenhein took ninth in 2:11.59, followed by Ryan Hall in 2:12.33. Teammate Brian Sell took 22nd in 2:16:07.

Italy's Stefano Baldini, who won the Athens Olympics in 2004, ended his international race career 12th in 2:13.25.

Ritzenhein battled cramps for nearly the last 10 miles. The pain started in his left calf and moved up to his hamstring. Then the right calf cramped. Near the 19-mile mark, Ritzenhein was having a difficult time with each step, so he took a brief stop.

"I thought I had a really good shot at medaling," he said. "Things would have had to go a little more perfect for me. Even at 25K (about 15 ½ miles), I thought I was primed to get a medal. When the cramping started, it was all I could do to hold that pace. I thought I wasn't going to finish a couple times."

The temperature was in the high 70's for the 7:30 a.m. (Saturday p.m. EDT) start, the mid-80's when the race ended. Humidity dropped from the high 50's to low 40's. But the much-hyped Beijing pollution was no factor.

"(Wansiru) ran 2:06, so it couldn't be that bad," Hall said.

Hall said he was pleased with his all-out effort, not-so pleased with the result.

"You can't force a marathon," Hall said. "As hard as you want to run, as much as you want it, just pop it and make it happen, marathon's all about letting it come out and get in your own rhythm, finding your zone and just flying. That didn't happen."

But it did happened for Wansiru, who moved to Japan in 2002 to attend high school and still lives there. He led an African sweep of the first five places and seven of the first eight. And that despite world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya dropped out near the 28K mark due to stomach problems.

Viktor Rothlin of Switzerland placed sixth.

"The start was OK because it wasn't so hot, but during the race the weather was bad," Baldini said. "In the last 10 kilometers, it was unbelievable what the Kenyans and Africans were able to do in these conditions."

A pack of eight, including all three Kenyans, passed 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in 29:25.

Past Tianenman Square and The Forbidden City, one by one, the pack dwindled.

At 20K (59:10), only five Africans were left in the lead pack - Wansiru, 2008 world leader Lel, Gharib, Merga and Yonas Kifle of Eritrea. The same group passed the halfway mark in 1:02:34.

"I had to push the pace to tire the other runners," Wansiru said. "I had to push the pace because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down."

Approaching the 30K (1:29:14), only Wansiru and Merga were left. Gharib soon surged to make it a three-man pack.

"It was a hard race because of the heat," Gharib said, "but my time was very good considering the conditions."

By 35K (1:44:37), the medalists seemed certain, although Merga would have nothing left for the finish. Ritzenhein and Hall were 10th and 11th, nearly four minutes behind.

Five minutes later, Wansiru surged. Only Gharib responded, leaving Merga to fend for himself. Perhaps a quarter-mile later, Wansiru began to widen the gap on the Moroccan.

"With six kilometers left, I tried to push," Wansiru said. "It was hard, but they didn't keep up."

Soon, he was wrapped in a Kenyan flag and taking an actual victory lap.

Although Kenyans have been among the world leaders in this even for several decades, Wansiru is the first from his country to win Olympic gold. Kenya's previous best was a silver medal, by Eric Wainaina, in 2000.

Wansiru said "it feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold."

And he also gave notice of what, he hopes, is to come.

"My next goal is to get the world record," he said, "maybe next year."