You know about Meb's silver and the attack on leader Vanderlei de Lima, but do you remember Stefano Baldini's incredible 28:59 close in 80+ degree temps that featured a 14:12 5k from 35k to 40k or the Austrian guy in a fuel belt? This remains the only Olympic marathon since 1980 not to feature an African in the top six -- and a reminder of how the Olympic marathon, with its hot weather and three-athlete-per-country limit, can produce unexpected results. No one would have predicted a podium of Italy, the United States, and Brazil in 2004. We can only guess what Sapporo has in store...

Kandie ran 2:10:37 in warm conditions to break Baldini's mark by 18-seconds and his own PB by more than 5-minutes. Naomi Maiyo won the women's race (2:41:06).

On Sunday Bett will defend his title from 2012 and hopes to break the 2:10:55 CR held by Italy's 2004 Olympic marathon champ Stefano Baldini. The women's field is led by 2:28 Ethiopian Gishu Mindaye Tilahun. Back in Kenya some fellow-athletes wondered why Bett returns to run the tough Athens marathon course time and again. “They asked me how is it that I end up running here. Then I tell them: I like to run where the marathon started. The Olympics began here. That is why I like Athens and come back again. This is a legendary marathon.”