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Post-Race Content:
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2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon - Men's Race
by Sharon Ekstrom and John Elliott
The Chicago Marathon - Always Fast
With pacers, an extremely flat and fast course, and some of the best fields in the world, the Chicago Marathon typically produces some of the best finish times in the world and certainly in North America. But the pressure was on Chicago to perform as many international marathons were posting faster times than Chicago in recent years and even the Boston Marathon (admittedly on a perfect day with a tailwind) had eclipsed the Chicago Marathon as fastest in North America.
The 2011 Field
photo: Scott Winnier / MarathonGuide.com
The front pack
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With a debut marathon of 2:03:06 at the 2011 Boston Marathon, organizers and the world were waiting to see what Moses Mosop could produce. Would he be a one-hit runner, or could he seal his place as one of the best with a great followup in Chicago? Before the race Mosop was telling the press and the world that he was not 100% and that he might still go for a course record, but would not attempt to go for a world record. There aren't many in the world who could say that they could "only" beat the Chicago course record while injured. Was this guy for real?
Ryan Hall is America's best. His most recent marathon, a 2:04:58 at The 2011 Boston Marathon - albeit wind-aided - and his four sub-2:09 finishes suggested that he could compete against anyone. With Mosop presumably injured, there was hope and talk that Hall could take the victory. And in the days before the race, Hall told us that he was "expecting something special from the day, perhaps a 2:05."
The race was filled with other contenders and heroes, not least of whom were Wesley Korir, Evans Cheruiyot, Marilson Gomes Dos Santos, Bekana Daba and Bazu Worku. This was a stacked field. The last runner who should have been in the race, Sammy Wanjiru was given bib number 1, but the 2009/2010 winner and course record holder passed away in the year before the race and would not be in physical attendance - but with his number 1 bib reserved and not used, he would be at the race in spirit and as the holder of the time to beat, the 2:05:41 course record from 2009.
The 2011 Race - On Pace for a Record
When Sammy Wanjiru set the course record, he ran a 1:02:01 first half enroute to a 2:05:41 - not very even. With that in mind, the pacers were instructed to run the first half in 1:02:40 (4:47/mi pace) - a time faster than the average pace needed for the course record, but an even pace. Three pacers led nine men out at the prescribed pace. Officials from the lead vehicle reported back mile splits which averagd 4:47/4:48, but the reports were telling us that some miles were a bit fast and some a bit slow - and after the runners would confirm that although the pacers did an adequate job, on occasion they would reach a mile and realize the pace was slow and then they would speed up - those surges may have affected some of the runners.
photo: Scott Winnier / MarathonGuide.com
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Through the halfway mark nine runners were with the pacers - Moses Mosop, Bekana Daba, Evans Cheruiyot, Terefe Mergu, Cickson Chumba, Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Wesley Korir and Ryan Hall. The group went through the halfway in a 4:48 average or 1:02:54 - about 20 seconds slower than the prescribed pace and now off the time needed for a course record. With that the pace began to increase slightly and just 25K, Wesley Korir spoke to the one remaining pacer and the two pushed hard together creating a serious gap between themselves and the other runners. After helping with the break, the pacer dropped back and Korir was alone. It did seem strange that the man with the ninth fastest personal best (2:08:24) in the field would be the one to make the break...
Behind, only Moses Mosop tried to bridge the gap back to Korir. Initially it didn't appear that Mosop was making any headway, but after about a half mile, Mosop was up with Korir. The two ran together for a while, but clearly the break was too much for Korir and he began to slow as Mosop continued to move forward. Behind, the other runners were stringing out, with Bernard Kipyeho, Bekana Daba and Evans Cheruiyot maintaining some contact. Ryan Hall, in sixth place, was falling back; and Marilson Gomes dos Santos was struggling and would soon drop out.
photo: Scott Winnier / MarathonGuide.com
Mosop Sets a New Course Record
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Moses Mosop...
Running alone and knowing the victory was his; Moses Mosop would slow slightly, but finish strong to win in a new course record of 2:05:37 - bettering Sammy Wanjiru's time by four seconds. Wesley Korir, the man who initiated the surge and broke up the race, would fall almost back to fourth place as first Bernard Kipyego would pass him and then Bekana Daba would catch him. But showing incredible strength, Korir would make up a twenty second deficit behind Kipyego in the final miles to take the second position in 2:06:15, fourteen seconds ahead of Bernard Kipyego who would finish third in 2:06:29.
As the American favorite, hopes were high that Ryan Hall could compete for a win, but regardless he ran a very respectable 2:08:04; his third fastest marathon ever.
Post-Race Thoughts
Reiterating the effect of his injury, Moses Mosop told us: "If I was in 100% shape, I could run 2:02 on this course!"
Ryan Hall commented that "the pacers would see a slower mile split on the lead vehicle and they would speed it up a bit...my turnover wasn't as good as it should have been and our pace was kind of all over the place. Having not run a paced race since 2007 when I ran London, I kind of forgot what it feels like... you are running someone elses rhythm..."
Wesley Korir said: "a PR - I can't ask for anything better than what I got today. I am very happy. I had to break up the group, in my mind I don't have a strong kick and I knew if I had a chance of finishing on the podium, I had to do something."
The top 10 finishers:
1. Mosop, Moses (KEN) - 2:05:37 ($150,000)
2. Korir, Wesley (KEN) - 2:06:15 ($80,000)
3. Kipyego, Bernard (KEN) - 2:06:29 ($55,000)
4. Daba, Bekana (ETH) - 2:07:59 ($25,000)
5. Hall, Ryan (USA) - 2:08:04 ($22,500)
6. Cheruiyot, Evans (KEN) - 2:10:29
7. Gokaya, Kouji (JPN) - 2:12:15
8. Arai, Hironori (JPN) - 2:13:17
9. Horiguchi, Takashi (JPN) - 2:14:48
10. Shimoju, Masaki (JPN) - 2:17:49
Additional USA Finishers beating Olympic Trials Qualifier Standard
12. McKeeman, Michael (USA) - 2:18:07 ($10,000)
13. Christiansen, Jed (USA) - 2:18:31 ($7,500)
14. Chirlee, Joseph (USA) - 2:18:36 ($5,000)
15. MacDowell, Adam (USA) - 2:18:47 ($3,500)
16. Levassiur, Matt (USA) - 2:18:58 ($2,500)
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