Kenyan kingpins rule the roads again

IT was a return to Kenyan dominance at the SSE Dublin marathon yesterday but not without an Irish twist in the tale.

The story reads like a typical major marathon with Eliud Too and Esther Macharia of Kenya taking the spoils in 2:14:47 and 2:34:15 respectively but there was a lot of running in the 26.2 miles before they were crowned the champions of 2014.

Dublin’s Maria McCambridge came up just four seconds short in the women’s race in a gallant sprint finish to the line with Esther Macharia – 2:34:15 to 2:34:19. Meseret Godana of Ethiopia was third in 2:38:53.

“I’m just gutted,” said McCambridge with tears in her eyes. “I came here to win and I thought I could. I probably left it a bit late but I gave it everything.”

McCambridge hung gamely with the Africans and was in a group of three including Ethiopia’s Meseret Godana and eventual winner Macharia at the 20 mile mark.

“From 20 miles on it was just that little bit out of reach,” said the 39-year-old Dubliner who refused to wilt. “And then I said at 25 miles ‘just lay it on the line, just go for it as best you can.’”

She closed the gap from 80m to 20m but ultimately ran out of road.

McCambridge eked out every last ounce of energy and was rewarded with a personal best performance and a total of €10,000 in prize money – €7,000 for second and €3,000 as first Irish woman home.

“I was running blind for the last 100m so I couldn’t do anymore,” said McCambridge of her efforts. “I’m gutted but it’s a happy gutted because I know I did run well and I did get everything out of me there. I was just a fraction short that’s all.”

This was McCambridge’s fourth national title, which was incorporated as part of the Dublin marathon, and she has had a new lease of life under Athletics Ireland National Endurance Coach Chris Jones.

“I’ve had a whole new motivation,” said the seasoned veteran.

“I’ve changed a lot – my whole training system and my whole philosophy. I’m really enjoying my running.”

Russian Dmitry Safronov stole a march from the startline in the men’s race and at one stage he looked like he might hold off the East African chasing pack.

Con Houlihan famously wrote a piece on John Treacy’s world cross country victory in 1979 headlined as the “The Magic Fox That Got Away.”

The Russian fox passed through halfway in 65:50 and had a lead as big as two minutes at one point but didn’t quite have the magic to get away.

Eliud Too, wearing a Le Cheile running vest, was the strongest in the chasing pack, passing Safronov at the 20 mile mark and went on for a comfortable victory. The Russian’s effort took its toll and he faded to third in 2:15:12 behind Kenyan Paul Koeck Kimutai in second in 2:14:56.

Too caused a surprise as he wasn’t on the elite startlist despite being entered in May by his exercise physiologist Neil Fleming.

Fleming is now based as a professor in Indiana State University and became involved with the Kenyan when one of his students, James Walters, went over to the famous high altitude town of Iten to coach as part of a placement.

“He’s been working there for the last two years,” said Fleming of his former student. “I do their testing, their vo2 max and their lactate profiling every six months. They fly to Indiana and they get their physiological testing done and I try to advise them.

“Dublin was perfect for us. He got free accommodation. He’s been living with my mommy and my daddy the last two weeks.”

This was Too’s second marathon and he was happy to get the win in mild but very breezy conditions: “This is only my second marathon,” said the Kenyan who came second in the Cleveland marathon in May.

“I was so relaxed and so comfortable. I’m very happy with the win.”

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) was equally happy to take the national title in 2:21:01. The Modovan, who has been living in Ireland for the last eight years, took the advice of his coach, Jerry Kiernan, and was pleased with his third national title.

“Jerry said to me: ‘The worst weather conditions to run a marathon tomorrow, so Sergiu just be happy to get the marathon title because there is no way you could run a fast time.”

It was Ciobanu’s third title since 2009.