Moroccan marathoner wins silver medal

[Tunisia216 2]

Jaouad Gharib of Morocco just took a silver medal in the 26 + mile men's marathon run. I just watched it happen and t here hasn't been a news article yet, I will get one up as soon as it's available...

Over 26 miles... Can you even imagine?????

:dance: Morocco!!!! :dance:

[Martiniolive 0]

Awesome!

Jaouad Gharib of Morocco just took a silver medal in the 26 + mile men's marathon run. I just watched it happen and t here hasn't been a news article yet, I will get one up as soon as it's available...

Over 26 miles... Can you even imagine?????

Morocco!!!!

[Tunisia216 2]

I know!!! Isn't it? I'd have probably died around mile 4 lol

Awesome!

[Tunisia216 2]

Jaouad Gharib of Morocco crossing the finish line.

Article :

Wansiru first Kenyan to win Olympic men’s marathon

By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer 28 minutes ago

BEIJING (AP)—Samuel Wansiru already had made a name for himself in the heady world of Kenyan distance running. Now he’s made history.

The 21-year-old pulled away over the final few miles Sunday to become the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon—and he did it faster than anyone ever has.

Wansiru negotiated the 26.2-mile (42.15-kilometer) course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

“In Kenya we have many medals,” Wansiru said, “but I’m glad I have this one.”

Kenyans had twice won men’s marathon silver, most recently in 2000, but never a gold.

At the Beijing Games, Kenya won 14 track and field medals, behind only the United States (23) and Russia (18). Five of them were gold.

It was just the third marathon for Wansiru, who first set the world half-marathon record at age 18 three years ago, then broke it twice again last year. Though the official Olympic start list spells his name as Wansiru, the Kenyan is also known as Wanjiru.

Two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco won the silver in 2:07.16. Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede, winner of this year’s Paris Marathon, took the bronze in 2:10.00. Ethiopian Deriba Merga led much of the race but faded badly at the end to wind up fourth.

The crowd roared as Wansiru entered the Bird’s Nest, and he responded by raising his left hand, then clapped several times. The final lap in the last event of track and field at the Beijing Olympics was run around an infield painted blue for the night’s closing ceremony.

Just across the line, Wansiru—all 112 pounds of him—kneeled and crossed himself several times. He had just broken the Olympic mark of 2:09.21 set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

As Wansiru was still on one knee, Gharib crossed the line for the silver.

“I had to push the pace to tire the other runners,” Wansiru said. “I had to push the pace because my body gets tired when I slow down.”

Wansiru, who trains at 7,600 feet on a trail that runs alongside spectacular Thompson Falls, won the Fukuoka International Marathon in Japan last December and was runner-up at the London Marathon in April.

Americans Dathan Ritzenhein and Ryan Hall finished ninth and 10th, respectively.

Defending Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, in his final marathon, finished 12th, then praised those who finished at the front.

“In the last 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) it was unbelievable what the … Africans were able to do under these conditions,” he said.

The temperature was 75 degrees (24 C) with 52 percent humidity when the race began at 7:30 a.m. and it heated up steadily through the morning, reaching 86 degrees (30 C) by the finish.

The lead pack began to separate through the first three miles (5 kilometers). By the halfway mark, eight were grouped at the front, led by Eritrean Yonas Kifle.

By the 18.6-mile (30-kilometer) mark, the pack had dwindled to three— Wansiru, Merga and Gharib.

Reigning world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya stayed with the leaders through the early stages but fell back and finally pulled out of the race shortly past the halfway mark. He later said he had a stomach problem.

World record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia decided not to run the race because of concerns about Beijing’s notorious air pollution. But after an overnight thunderstorm, a glorious blue sky greeted the final day of these games.

The race began at the edge of Tiananmen Square, then wound around the Temple of Heaven before turning northward toward the Olympic Green and the Bird’s Nest, where colorful dancers, drummers and cyclists entertained the crowd as it awaited the runners.

Edited August 24, 2008 by Ash * Habibati

[Tunisia216 2]

BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Gold medalist Samuel Kamau Wansiru of Kenya is congrtulated by silver medalist Jaouad Gharib of Morocco after the Men's Marathon in the National Stadium during Day 16 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Gold medalist Samuel Kamau Wansiru ® of Kenya and silver medalist Jaouad Gharib of Morocco celebrate after their respective first and seco the Men's Marathon in the National Stadium during Day 16 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

[Tunisia216 2]

Jaouad Gharib of Morocco is draped in his national flag after finishing second in the men's marathon of the athletics competition in the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 24, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (CHINA)

[Carolyn 1]

A GREAT race!

[Muh and me 18]

Yahhhhhhhhhhh MOROCCO!!!

[Staashi 371]

I saw the medal ceremony last night. My husband and I were choked up to see how humble he was...it was beautiful to watch him take the whole event in.