Dos Santos Surprises, Prokopcuka Repeats at New York 2006

Gomes dos Santos Surprises, Prokopcuka Repeats at ING New York City Marathon 2006

NEW YORK - (November 5, 2006) - For years, the New York Yankees have used the same strategy: assemble a team of All-Stars, paying whatever it takes to sign then, and put them on the field to run roughshod over the opposition. This decade, though, that hasn't proven to be too successful, as the Yanks have made early exits from the playoffs, failing to win their annual quest for the Holy Grail of a World Series title.

The ING New York City Marathon, whose route's northernmost point comes within sight of the home of the Bronx Bombers, used a similar strategy this year, and in the end, the results were comparable to that of the New York baseball team.

In spite of assembling perhaps the deepest and most competitive fields ever gathered in New York, perhaps in any marathon, and turning them loose on the streets under absolutely perfect running conditions (mid-40s, no wind), the end results had to be less than satisfying to all but the winners for the 37th edition.

Rather than the course records assumed to be a given by all involved beforehand, Marilson Gomes dos Santos and Jelena Prokopcuka won in times (2 hours, 9 minutes, 58 seconds and 2:25:05 respectively) that didn't even make the New York all-time Top 10 list. What's more, they did so in runaway fashion, as neither was seriously challenged by their All-Star pursuers for most of the race.

Prokopcuka's win was perhaps the more surprising, since as the defending champ, the rest of the women knew she was for real when she bolted to an early lead in the first miles of the race. After coming back to the pack at 5K, the Latvian made another break shortly thereafter, and once again no one, save Tatiana Hladyr of the Ukraine, went with her.

"I think the field was so strong, we were all watching each other, and no one wanted to be the first to lead," said U.S. record holder Deena Kastor, who would wind up sixth in 2:27:54.

Prokopcuka herself was surprised she had so little company. By the time the chase group tried to rouse itself and reel her in, it was too late. "Once we got used to running a slow pace, it was hard to change gears to go faster." Unlike last year, when Prokopcuka had to overtake, then fend off, Susan Chepkemei in the final miles, this time she could enjoy what she termed a "sweet victory" over the last miles, finishing comfortably ahead of Hladyr by 61 seconds.

Dos Santos, who two days before predicted he would win the race, had a more worried finish, as he had to hold of Stephen Kiogora and defending champ and world record holder Paul Tergat over the final few miles. But the two Kenyans found their chase was a case of too little, too late. When dos Santos made his move at 19 miles, they and the rest of the eight-man lead group were content to let him extend his lead from five to 20 to 45 seconds.

"I admit I didn't know who he was," said Tergat. "At 38 kilometers, we realized he was a real threat to win, but we waited too long."

Dos Santos, the first Brazilian to win in New York, held an eight second margin over Kiogora at the finish, with Tergat another four seconds back.

Americans had figured large in the pre-race predictions, with many feeling a men's or women's win was a distinct possibility - the first here since 1982. But Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. never seemed to get into a rhythm, and her Team Running USA counterpart and fellow 2004 Olympic medalist, Meb Keflezighi, fell victim to some bad food he'd eaten a few days earlier.

After running with the leaders for half the race, Keflezighi faded to a 2:22:02, 21st place finish. Alan Culpepper, another contender, dropped out at 16 miles, leaving California's Pete Gilmore as the top American in 10th place, his 2:13:13 just marginally slower than the time he ran in placing ninth in Boston this year. He was followed one place later by Dathan Ritzenhein, whose marathon debut wasn't quite as successful as he had hoped as the 2004 Olympian discovered the harsh realities of the marathon's final miles in finishing in 2:14:01. Two other marathon first-timers, Joe Driscoll of ZAP Fitness and Matt Gabrielson of Team USA Minnesota, finished in 2:18:40 and 2:19:53 respectively, good for 17th and 20th places.

Gabrielson's teammate, Katie McGregor, also a marathon debutante, ran 2:32:36 to place ninth among the women.

The world's largest marathon based on finishers reported a record 38,368 starters (previous record was 37,597 in 2005).

37th ING New York City Marathon
New York, NY, Sunday, November 5, 2006

MEN
1) Marilson Gomes dos Santos, BRA, 2:09:58, $155,000
2) Stephen Kiogora, KEN, 2:10:06, $80,000
3) Paul Tergat, KEN, 2:10:10, $55,000
4) Daniel Yego, KEN, 2:10:34, $35,000
5) Rodgers Rop, KEN, 2:11:24, $20,000
6) Stefano Baldini, ITA, 2:11:33, $10,000
7) William Kipsang, KEN, 2:11:54, $7500
8) Hailu Negussie, ETH, 2:12:12, $5000
9) Hendrick Ramaala, RSA, 2:13:04, $2500
10) Peter Gilmore, USA / CA, 2:13:13, $21,000
Other top U.S.
11) Dathan Ritzenhein, USA / CO, 2:14:01, $15,000 (debut)
17) Joe Driscoll, USA / NC, 2:18:40, $10,000 (debut)
20) Matt Gabrielson, USA / MN, 2:19:53, $3000 (debut)
21) Meb Keflezighi, USA / CA, 2:22:02, $2000

WOMEN
1) Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT, 2:25:05, $155,000
2) Tatiana Hladyr, UKR, 2:26:05, $80,000
3) Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 2:26:58, $55,000
4) Rita Jeptoo, KEN, 2:26:59, $40,000
5) Lidiya Grigoryeva, RUS, 2:27:21, $25,000
6) Deena Kastor, USA /CA, 2:27:54, $40,000
7) Nina Rillstone, NZL, 2:31:19, $7500
8) Lornah Kiplagat, NED, 2:32:31, $5000
9) Katie McGregor, USA / MN, 2:32:36, $17,500 (debut)
10) Susan Chepkemei, KEN, 2:32:45, $1000
Other top U.S.
12) Samia Akbar, USA / VA, 2:34:14, $10,000 (debut)
15) Magdalena Lewy Boulet, USA / CA, 2:42:38, $3000
17) Michelle LaFleur, USA / GA, 2:44:09, $2000

source USATF