Kimutai foils great escape from jail

KENYAN Lexan Kimutai foiled the great escape from Kilmainham Jail yesterday to win the adidas Dublin Marathon in a record-breaking 2:13:08.

The thrilling finish shattered the record of 2:13:45 set by Jerry Kiernan in 1982 and provided the perfect finishing touch to the 25th anniversary of the event.

Competing in the capital for the fourth time, Kimutai kept his cool when fellow Kenyans Julius Kimtai and Joseph Kanda made their escape from a leading group at the gates of the jail.

He sat back in a five-man chasing group as his country men opened up a lead of 40 second. Kanda, at the helm clocked a 4:45 mile and it appeared that a 2:11:00 was a possibility.

With the trailing group disintegrating, Kimutai maintained his composure as he reeled in the front men. He endured a few scary moments when a golden retriever gave chase at Orwell Park in Rathgar,

"It did not bother me too much," the winner said. "I was very focused then. I knew I was closing all the time and I kept on running. The course was flat at that point and I was relaxed running. My plan was to stay with the leading group but it was too fast in the early part of the race. I dropped back and then I came at my own pace."

Kimutai cut the deficit to four seconds at 19 miles, despite a 5:01 mile from the leaders. He overtook them on Clonskeagh Road, pressed for a time, and then settled back for a breather behind the luckless Kimtai.

They produced a 5:16 mile to Belfield Park before Kimutai went 30 metres clear. He produced a 4:54 mile that took him to the RTÉ studios in Donnybrook with a 27-second lead and he asserted his dominance with every stride as he was cheered into Nassau Street.

Tseko Mpolokeng from South Africa, whose brother, Zacharia, won in 2001, finished second in 2:14:45, with Julius Kimtai third in 2:15:22. Gary Crossan from Letterkenny, was once more the first Irishman across the line - 12th in 2:24:07 - retaining his national title. Pauric McKinney from Donegal was 13th in 2:24:39 to take the silver medal for a sensational fifth time with Paul O'Callaghan was home in 2:15:15.

Yelena Burykina (Russia) swept to victory in the women's race in 2:32:53. Florence Barsosio, whose sister, Sally, was a bronze medallist on the track at the world championships 10 years ago, eventually took second place in 2:33:58 with another Russian, Tatiana Titova, third in 2:36:04.

"I must admit in panicked," the winner said. "I was looking out for my coach all the time. She was in a car. I did not know if I should push myself or just keep going as I was.

"At 10k they pushed so hard. I thought it was not my pace. It was just too fast. After 30k I saw the leading Kenyan and I knew then I could do it. I moved up slowly, slowly and then I was in front. I caught the man in front of me and then that helped me along to the finish."

Valerie Vaughan (Blarney-Inniscarra) led the Irish ladies home as she added the national marathon title to the cross-country titles she won in the past, in 2:52:10. The silver medal went to Helen Crossan from Letterkenny in 2:53:25 with Patricia Murphy third in 2:56:54.