26 MILES
The Three Medalists in Chicago
Khalid Khannouchi is flanked by Kenyans Fred Kiprop (R) and Peter Ndirangu (L) on the awards stand.
Unfortunately, this is as close to a finish line shot of Khannouchi that I got . . . as I could not catch him on my bike in the final miles. I had waited for Jerry Lawson and Todd Williams at 23 miles, and then set sail for the finish. Despite pedaling a 3:07 (PR) mile between 24 and 25, I came up about 200 meters short.
Peter Ndirangu
Peter Ndirangu struggles through the last mile to finish in 2:08:46
Chirchir and Muturi
Philip Chirchir (31) moves ahead of Patrick Muturi (12) as both head to sub - 2:09 clockings.
Chirchir finished in 2:08:56, Muturi followed 3 seconds later in 2:08:59.
Paul Evans
Defending Champ Paul Evans' 2:09:20 brought him but sixth place. Evans and fellow Brit Jon Brown (9th in 2:10:13) ran most of the race at the back of the lead pack and never looked real comfortable.
Evans did muster a charge over the final 5K and was closing on Chirchir and Muturi - and in the process, managed to hold off Lawson.
Jerry Lawson
Lawsons 2:09:35 bettered the AR for certified courses, but was 51 seconds short of the Million Dollar American Best. One consolation for Lawson, he can lay claim as being the US's top marathoner for 1997.
Todd Williams closes in on the finish of his long awaited marathon debut.
Despite slowing to over 11 minutes for his final 2 miles, Williams records the second fastest debut ever run by an American.
