Marathon McCann sprints to gold

Australia’s ageless Kerryn McCann credited the sell-out crowd with helping her claim victory, as she won a gripping women’s marathon today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After more than 42km around Melbourne, nothing separated McCann and Kenya’s Hellen Cherono Koskei as they entered the stadium, but the 38-year-old Australian defending champion prevailed in the mad dash to the line to win in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 54 seconds.

Cherono Koskei finished just one second later and McCann said the thunderous reception she received on arrival from the 76,000 spectators played no small part in her success.

“I came up to the stadium thinking, ‘silver’s pretty darn good. I’d be happy with silver’.” she said. “I came through the tunnel and heard the crowd roar. That wasn’t me running that last 300m.”

The pre-race favourite following the withdrawal due to injury of England’s world record holder, Paula Radcliffe, McCann set the early pace as part of a group of six including Cherono Koskei, Elizabeth Yelling (ENG), countrywoman Kate Smythe, Josephine Akunaay (TAN) and Lioudmila Kortchaguina (CAN).

They powered their way through to the halfway point and remained tightly together through to the 25km mark, when the top three of McCann, Cherono Koskei and Yelling edged clear.

With 10km left, McCann and Cherono Koskei established the decisive break, and the pair duelled right up until the last 300 metres inside the arena. However, energized by the crowd, the Aussie veteran found something extra to triumph in one of the closest finishes to a marathon in recent memory.

Her compatriots, Kate Symthe and Lauren Shelley, came home in seventh and eighth place respectively.

Stating her intention to retire at the end of the year, McCann described her unparalleled joy after surviving the desperate sprint.

“It’s probably the greatest race I’ve ever run. I’ve never been in that situation before, sprinting with 300 metres to go, it’s something I’ll cherish forever,” she said.

“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. I’m coming to the end of my career and I just wanted to lap it up and enjoy the moment.”

It was a similarly tight affair in the men’s marathon also held today, with Tanzanian Samson Ramadhani Nyonyi tasting victory just one second ahead of Kenyan Fed Mogaka Tumbo in two hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds.

The African duo ran side-by-side for most of the race after early leader Christopher Isegwe Njunguda (TAN) faltered due to injury.

Daniel Robinson (ENG) won the bronze medal, three minutes behind the leaders, while Australian Scott Westcott was happy with his fourth place finish another two minutes back.

“I’m thoroughly pleased with the way I ran. It’s something I’ve dreamt about since I was a kid, running into the stadium in front of your home crowd,” Westcott said.

“It’s a very unique, very treasured experience.”

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