SHOBUKHOVA WINS PRAGUE HALF IN PHOTO FINISH

By David Monti

(c) 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Liliya Shobukhova made her half-marathon debut a memorable one, winning the Hervis Prague Half-Marathon today by an eyelash over defending champion Caroline Kwambai.  Both women were timed in 1:11:14, well off of Kwambai's course record of 1:10:08 set last year.  Shobukhova, the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships silver medalist at 3000m from Russia, used her 4:03.78 1500m speed to touch the finish tape just centimeters ahead of Kwambai from Kenya.

In the men's race, Patrick Ivuti broke Silas Kirui's course record, breaking the finish tape in 1:01-flat. Defending champion Stephen Kibiwott finished third in 1:01:54, with Jacob Yator sandwiched between his two Kenyan compatriots in 1:01:20.

Unlike the conditions faced by the athletes running today's IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, the weather in Prague was windy, cool and damp, around 10°C (50°F).  Nonetheless, the event had a record 5700 entrants (finishers not available yet).

ENDS

Hervis Prague International Half-Marathon (9th)

Praha, CZE; Saturday, March 24

Distance: 21.1 km, one loop course (modified from last year to remove some cobblestone sections)

Finishers: Not available at press time

Event Records: Men, new (see below); Women, 1:10:08, Caroline Kwambai (KEN), 2006

Prize Money: Indicated in Euros for top open finishers

  NOTE: Patrick Ivuti set a course record while Liliya Shobukhova won the women's race by an eyelash over defending champion and course record holder, Caroline Kwambai --Ed.

MEN -
1. Patrick Ivuti, KEN            1:01:00 CR* 3500 Euros + 1000i + 3000*
2. Jacob Yator, KEN              1:01:20     2000
3. Stephen Kibiwott, KEN         1:01:54     1500
4. Tadesse Feyissa, ETH          1:02:22     1000
5. John Cheruiyot Korir, KEN     1:02:22      800
6. Martin Sulle, TAN             1:03:11      600
7. William Rotich, KEN           1:03:13      400
8. Mesfin Hailu, ETH             1:03:26      200
9. Andrey Naumov, UKR            1:05:2
10. Said Azouzi, MAR              1:06:16
11. Jussie Utriainen, FIN         1:06:26
12. Pvel Faschingbauer, CZE       1:06:31
13. Erik Pettersson, SWE          1:07:01
14. Ismael Kirui, KEN             1:07:55 (a)
15. Rik Ceulemans, BEL            1:08:20
*Course record/3000 Euro bonus; previous 1:01:07, Silas Kirui (KEN), 2005

i = Earned time incentive bonus

(a) Is this THE Ismael Kirui?

WOMEN -

1. Liliya Shobukhova, RUS        1:11:14 DB  2000 Euros
2. Caroline Kwambai, KIEN        1:11:14     1000
3. Leila Aman, ETH               1:11:24      700
4. Azalech Maresha, ETH          1:11:59      500
5. Petr Havelka, CZE             1:11:59      400
6. Marein Senders, GBR           1:12:13      300

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