P1 The Start
1 & 2- Pacesetters Leonid Shvetsov, Godfrey Kiprotich, and Kariuki escort a large pack through the first miles.
3-American Jerry Lawson runs in the lead pack, while
4- Rod Dehaven, Terry Mahon and John Sence follow in a second pack.
P2 5K Into the Race
1-Shvetsov leads past 5K - American Jerry Lawson trails by 20 meters (at the left).
2- Osoro (center) tucks in behind pacers.
3- Rod Dehaven, and Terry Mahon, Mark Coogan and John Sence follow.
P3 The Pace Heats Up
1- A few strides behind the pacers - Khalid Khannouchi (center) is flanked by Gert Thys (far right), and Osoro (left). Kenyans Philip Chirchir and Joseph Kahugu follow close to the curb.
2- Rod Dehaven, and Terry Mahon, and Mark Coogan - a tad under 5:00 pace.
P4 Three Packs Form at 15K
1- Shvetsov and Philip Tarus (35) lead past 15K in 45:04 - close to 3:00/K pace - a mid 2:06 clip. Khalid Khannouchi (center) is shadowed by Gert Thys, and Osoro -a bit obscurred behind Kiprotich (13).
2- Eder Moreno (left) leads a pack running low 2:08 pace.
3- Mark Coogan, John Sence, and Rod Dehaven, still under 5:00 / 2:11 pace.
P5 The Pack Thins Out after 14.5 mi.
1- After pacing half-way in 1:03:28 - Khannouchi (left) leads a dwindling pack, though Thys, and Osoro shadow his every move.
2- Eder Moreno's (2nd r) group hit half-way in 1:04:10.
3- (l-r) Mark Coogan, Terry Mahon, and Rod Dehaven, passed half-way in 1:04:10, and have joined German Joseph Mereng.
P6 Plans Are Made at 17.5 Mi.
1- A strides behind the pacers - Khalid Khannouchi (left), Ondoro Osoro, Gert Thys and Joseph Kahugu gauge eachother and prepare for the stretch run.
2- The longest-lasting rabbit Godfrey Kiprotich delivers the lead pack to 30K in 1:30:26.
3- Osoro briefly assumes the lead at 19 mi.
P7 Kahugu Surges at 20 Mi.
1- Joseph Kahugu makes a bold move at 20 miles that puts some hurt into the seven man pack.
2- Kahugu's 4:42 mile opens 15m on Khannouchi and Thys.
3- Osoro is content to run 4:47 - and trails by 30m. Tanui is another 15m back.
P8 Osoro's View at 35K
1- Khannouchi surges to a 4:41 mile and hits 35K in 1:45:20 - 2 seconds ahead of Kahugu and Thys. Osoro is 7 seconds backs - with this view of his competitors - and the Chicago skyline. "I could see their move was too fast and I was not worried," Osoro noted.
P9 Osoro Takes His Move
1- At 22.5 miles, Kannouchi opens 15m on Thys, while Osoro moves past Kahugu.
2- Osoro can't be broken
3- In the 24th mile, Osoro looks within, "I could see that Kannouchi was not looking very strong so I decided to take my move then."
P10 Osoro Tops the Victory Stand
1- Thys, Osoro and Kannouchi on the awards stand. Osoro ran history's 3rd fastest marathon, a World Record Debut, and a Kenyan Record. Kannouchi became the first man with two sub 2:07:30 clockings, and Thys the first man with two sub 2:08 marathons in the same year.
