CHICAGO (October 22, 2006) – Robert K. Cheruiyot (KEN) outsprinted Daniel Njenga (KEN) today to win an exciting LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in two hours, seven minutes 35 seconds.
In the women’s race, Berhane Adere (ETH) stayed back and attacked late to win in 2:20:42. Galina Bogomolova (RUS) was second in 2:20:47 and Benita Johnson (AUS) moved up to third in 2:22:36.
The race was run on a blustery day with light rain, strong winds from the west and temperatures in the low 40s F. As Cheruiyot was finishing he slipped and fell backwards, hitting his head on the ground. The two-time winner of the Boston Marathon and new leader of the World Marathon Majors series was evaluated on site and taken to a local hospital for precautionary purposes where he will be held overnight for observation.
Njenga, who with Cheruiyot, broke away from Jimmy Muindi (KEN) with just less than two miles to go, finished in 2:07:40. It was the third time in five tries at Chicago that he placed second; he finished third the other two times. Muindi hung on for third in 2:07:51, while American Abdi Abdirahman had a major breakthrough to take fourth place in a personal-best 2:08:56. Robert Cheboror (KEN) tried to stay with the lead pack, but faded after 20 miles and finished fifth in 2:09:25. American Brian Sell was sixth with a personal-best 2:10:47.
In the women’s race, Adere and Bogomolova passed early leader Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM), who faded to fifth after running a sub-2:17 course-record pace for 16 miles. She had led the race by two minutes, 12 seconds before slowing down. Bogomolova and Adere passed Tomescu-Dita just past the 24-mile mark. They ran with each other until Adere stepped up the pace at 25.5 miles. Bogomolova tried to close the gap and did briefly on the incline just before the final turn.
Madai Perez Carrillo (MEX) moved up with Johnson and grabbed fourth place in 2:22:59. Tomescu-Dita placed fifth in 2:24:25 and Nuta Olaru (ROM) finished sixth in 2:25:37.
The men’s and woman’s wheelchair winners were Joshua George (USA) in 1:38:31 and Miriam Ladner (USA) in 2:04:21. The official number of starters was 34,698.