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The 38th Running of the New York City Marathon - The Men's Race
by John Elliott
After a disappointing 2006 Marathon, the 2007 ING New York City Marathon more than made up for its predecessor's deficiencies. The 2006 experience caused race organizers to choose to do away with the use of pacesetters ("rabbits" as they're often called), so many were wondering how that would affect the strategy. The field was as strong as ever, and included four past champions: Martin Lel, Rodgers Rop, Hendrick Ramaala and Marilson Gomes dos Santos. In addition there were champions and runners-up from many of the world's major marathons: Martin Lel, Stefano Baldini, Stephen Kiogora, Abderrahim Goumri, James Kwambai - and that was just the beginning of the list of men in the field.
In the past, weather has been a factor in New York, but the weather for the 2007 ING New York City Marathon was about as good as it could be: 51 degrees at the start, mostly sunny skies, a gentle wind. This race would be just between the runners and not between runner and the elements.
Without pacers, the start of the race was a bit slower than usual and some of the past champions, in particular, were getting impatient. Hendrick Ramaala was the first to test the pack, putting in occasional surges to see who would go with him. Each time, the pack would pickup the pace to match Ramaala - and these were not real moves. Through Mile 14, the lead pack would shrink and swell - sometimes 17 runners, sometimes 12 runners chased by another five who did not want to go with the surges, but would catch the pack over time. The race was tactical and through the end of the 59th Street Bridge - the traditional point where the pacesetters would drop off - the pack was large and the pace reasonable.
Off the 59th Street Bridge - Mile 16+ - the race really begins, as usual... But what an interesting group to take off from the front of the pack: Ramaala starts to move, and he is followed by Martin Lel and Rodgers Rop - three past champions of the New York City Marathon are making a move. All, presumably are looking to enter the books as a two-time winner of the Marathon. William Kipsang, James Kwambai and Abderrahim Goumri together rejoin the lead three, although Kipsang quickly fades back. The two that remain, Kwambai and Goumri, are past runners-up at two of the World Marathon Majors series races... So, three champions and two runners-up remain to contest the 2007 New York City Marathon - there was certainly some significance in this lineup.
Through the next five miles, the five remaining runners were mostly content to run at a pace fast enough to further distance themselves from the chase pack, but not fast enough to cause too much strain. Hendrick Ramaala would occasionally surge to test the others and see the level of their fitness, but they were not serious attempts to break away from the pack. Each of Ramaala's tests were met by Martin Lel who would immediately respond and move forward of Ramaala, asserting that he was strong and would contend with whatever any competitor would throw at him. The others would run consistently and catch Ramaala and Lel who were only testing the field. James Kwambai takes a turn at the front, but his frontrunning is short-lived, and, at mile 23 both he and Rodgers Rop begin to fade back.
With three remaining: Martin Lel, Hendrick Ramaala and Abderrahim Goumri, it was Goumri who, after mile 23, was the next to test his competitors with a series of surges. But Goumri's surges, which were met by Lel, were strong enough to shake off Ramaala, and the race was down to Lel, the winner of the 2007 London Marathon and Goumri, the runner-up at the 2007 London Marathon (his debut).
Martin Lel and Abderrahim Goumri seemed perfectly matched and there was no indication of who might be the winner. The two ran side by side, or tried an occasional strong push - but the two were too evenly matched, neither could shake the other as they ran forward at a pace that was quickly putting Ramaala and anyone else still running, further and further behind.
Lel makes a decisive move with 500 yards to go - similar to his move in London, although earlier - and Goumri tries, but has nothing left to offer. After a short effort, Goumri realizes that he will be forced to accept second place and he relaxes as Lel sprints to the finish and his second New York City Marathon championship. Goumri finishes twelve seconds back. Behind these two finishers - no one.... for two more minutes. Their power and strength decimated their competition in a race that, without pacers and with strong competition, featured a strong negative split (a much faster second half than first).
Hendrick Ramaala, the man who forced the opening pace to a reasonable level and the man who pushed to stay with the leaders, holds on to finish in third place in 2:11:25. Stefano Baldini, a champion who played this race conservatively and smartly and let the group of five leave him at 35K, finishes in fourth place in 2:11:58.
The finishers:
1. Martin Lel - 2:09:04
2. Abderrahim Goumri - 2:09:16
3. Hendrick Ramaala - 2:11:25
4. Stefano Baldini - 2:11:58
5. James Kwambai - 2:12:25
6. Ruggero Pertile - 2:13:01
7. Stephen Kiogora - 2:13:41
8. Marilson Gomes dos Santos - 2:13:47
9. Aleksandr Kuzin - 2:14:01
10. William Kipsang - 2:15:32
Post-Race Coverage: The Men's Race | The Women's Race | Photo Gallery
Pre-Race: Preview and Starter List |
Elite Athletes Past Performances | Men's Pre-Race Comments | A Chat w/ Abderrahim Goumri
Archive: Live Coverage
Results: Complete Searchable Results
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