Russian robs Lone chance in Pune Marathon

Russian robs Lone chance in Pune Marathon
JOE WILLIAMS

PUNE, JAN 23: Experience paid off as Fedor Ryjov of Russia, making his second appearance in the event, ran away with the Pune International Marathon title on Sunday. The event was sponsored by Pune Municipal Corporation, in its golden jubilee year.

The 39-year-old sports coach from Moscow clocked 2 hours 25 minutes, 17 seconds to claim the Rs one lakh cheque and the trophy.

Bhairav Singh Lone of Indian Railways, who lead the race for most of the time, finished second at 2:26.32, while two-time runner-up Peter de Vocht from Belgium had to be content with third place (2:28.18).

Leading right from the start, Kenya's Margaret Kaburu won the women's half marathon in a time of 1:18.10. Swede challenger Camilla Benjaminsson (1:19:17) was placed behind the winner, while international Satyabhama of Indian Railways timed 1:22:19 for third place. Kaburu was richer by Rs 60,000.

``It was a slow race and the delayed start added to the miseries of the runners,'' said Ryjov about his not-so-good timing.Nevertheless, he was quite content snatching the race from the Lone with just 1.5 km to go for the finish line. ``He did run fast and that paid off for me, as I maintained the same pace till the last kilometre,'' he said.

Ryjov was placed second twice earlier -- in 1994 and 1996. ``I thought to myself along the route that after two years an Indian would win, but the Russian, a better strategist, snatched it away from me,'' said the tired Lone, who came here from the Railways meet at Udaipur.

For Lone, a senior TC at Neemach railway station in Madhya Pradesh, this is the second visit to Pune for the Marathon. In his maiden entry in 1997, he was placed eighth.

Although the Kenyan camp did look gloomy, 25-year-old housewife Margaret Kaburu Nyanngoso brought some cheer on their face with women's half marathon title. ``It was a good race. But for the heat I could have done better,'' said the relaxed Margaret.

RESULTS

Men (42.195 km): Fedor Ryjov (Russia) 2:25.17; Bhairav Singh Lone (IndianRailways) 2:26.32; Peter de Votch (Belgium) 2:28.18; H A Chinnappa (SSCB) 2:29.28; Bharat Singh (SSCB) 2:29.45; Kumar Bura (Maharashtra) 2:31.10; Santosh Uttekar (BEG) 2:31.35.
Women (half-marathon): Margaret Kaburu Nyanngoso (Kenya) 1:18.10; Camilla Benjaminsson (Sweden) 1:19.17; Satyabhama (Railways) 1:22.19; Sarita Marbade (Mah) 1:22.25; Mallia Chandrakanti (Sri Lanka) 1:26.29; Vidya Deoghare (Mah) 1:27.07; Harshada Joshi (Mah).

BUFFALO BLOCKADE
Although there are pilots on bikes accompanying the PARTICIPANTS, THE LEADER in the women's race, Margaret Kaburu Nyanngoso from Kenya, was left all alone to find her way. And just in front of the Poona Golf Course, she almost ran into a herd buffaloes. Better sense prevailed and she stopped and let the animals have their way.

CM delays start
As usual, the race that was to start at 9.30 was delayed by an hour, not to accommodate the runners but for the chief guest, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who arrived late.