Unstoppable Farah wins Chicago Marathon
Britain's Mo Farah won the Chicago Marathon with a spectacular finishing surge on Sunday, shattering the European record to serve notice that his distance-racing dominance is far from over.
In only his third marathon start, Farah won in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 11 seconds under cool and rainy conditions to defeat Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew by 13 seconds, with Japan's Suguru Osako coming third in 2:5:50.
“It was amazing to cross the line first,” said Farah, who pumped his fists and blew kisses to the crowd as he neared the finish line.
The 2012 and 2016 Olympic and three-time world 5 000 and 10 000m champion, who switched to the marathon distance a year ago, became the first British man to win in Chicago since Paul Evans in 1996.
Farah smashed the former European mark of 2:05:48 set by Norwegian Sondre Nordstad Moen in Fukuoka last December and easily improved on his former British record and personal best of 2:06:22 from a third-place showing in London in April.
Farah's marathon debut was an eighth-place showing in London in 2014, his only prior competitive test at the distance until six month ago.
In slick and windy weather that was far from ideal, novice marathoner Farah averaged 4:46 miles and delivered the eighth-best time in Chicago Marathon history.
“The conditions weren't great and everyone was thinking about conditions rather than time,” Farah said.
“But toward the end we picked it up. I felt good toward the end of the race. At the beginning I felt a bit sluggish but overall I'm very happy.”
The 35-year-old Somalia-born Briton stayed with the lead pack for most of the race, fell back at 30km but charged directly back among the leaders, then outlasted every rival to the finish, dispatching Geremew with a strong closing kick.
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei won the women's title in 2:18:35, also a personal best. Ethiopia's Roza Dereje was second in 2:21:18, with compatriot Shure Demise third in 2:22:15.
Each champion took a top prize of US$100 000.
NAMPA/AFP
In only his third marathon start, Farah won in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 11 seconds under cool and rainy conditions to defeat Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew by 13 seconds, with Japan's Suguru Osako coming third in 2:5:50.
“It was amazing to cross the line first,” said Farah, who pumped his fists and blew kisses to the crowd as he neared the finish line.
The 2012 and 2016 Olympic and three-time world 5 000 and 10 000m champion, who switched to the marathon distance a year ago, became the first British man to win in Chicago since Paul Evans in 1996.
Farah smashed the former European mark of 2:05:48 set by Norwegian Sondre Nordstad Moen in Fukuoka last December and easily improved on his former British record and personal best of 2:06:22 from a third-place showing in London in April.
Farah's marathon debut was an eighth-place showing in London in 2014, his only prior competitive test at the distance until six month ago.
In slick and windy weather that was far from ideal, novice marathoner Farah averaged 4:46 miles and delivered the eighth-best time in Chicago Marathon history.
“The conditions weren't great and everyone was thinking about conditions rather than time,” Farah said.
“But toward the end we picked it up. I felt good toward the end of the race. At the beginning I felt a bit sluggish but overall I'm very happy.”
The 35-year-old Somalia-born Briton stayed with the lead pack for most of the race, fell back at 30km but charged directly back among the leaders, then outlasted every rival to the finish, dispatching Geremew with a strong closing kick.
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei won the women's title in 2:18:35, also a personal best. Ethiopia's Roza Dereje was second in 2:21:18, with compatriot Shure Demise third in 2:22:15.
Each champion took a top prize of US$100 000.
NAMPA/AFP
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