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2010 Finish Line News
Records
92-year-old could be oldest woman in history to finish a marathon
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The Honolulu Marathon might have its first world record.
Gladys "Glady" Burrill, a 92-year-old great-grandmother who finished the course on Sunday, Dec. 12, in 9 hours, 53 minutes and 16 seconds, appears to be the oldest female to ever finish a marathon.
The current listing in the Guinness Book of World Records shows Jenny Wood-Allen, age 90, from Dundee, Scotland, as the oldest woman to finish a marathon in 2002 at the London Marathon.
Documents will be filed to confirm that Burrill is indeed the oldest. Marc Roy of Sportstats, the Canadian company which times the Honolulu Marathon, confirmed that Burrill touched every electronic timing pad on the course en route to her finish. Photos were taken of Burrill at various points on the course by ASI Photo, and photos of her were shot at the finish by marathon chief photographer Ronen Zilberman.
Burrill was born on Nov. 23, 1918 in La Center Washington. She is a resident of Prospect, Oregon, but owns a condo in Waikiki Beach where she now spends much of her year.
A former multi-engine pilot, mountain climber, desert hiker and snowshoer, Burrill began marathoning in Honolulu at age 86. She successfully fast-walked her first four Honolulu Marathons to completion but failed at ages 90 and 91 to finish.
In 2008, her husband of 69 years, lumber executive Eugene F. Burrill, died a few days before her race. She went ahead with her attempt in his honor but her emotions weighed her down and she fell ill at mile 25.
In 2009, she said she consumed something in the morning that made her ill and she dropped out at mile 16.
Many thought Burrill would never do another marathon but she was determined to fool them. She walked about 2,600 miles in training in the year leading up to the 38th Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 12. In April she actually walked 26.2 miles on two occasions with a training partner.
Ryan Lamppa, media director of Running USA, which keeps road racing stats, said he is sure Burrill will be declared the oldest female marathon finisher in history. Sources from other running organizations have expressed the same confidence.
Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon, greeted Burrill with a lei as she crosssed the finish line on Dec. 12.
A poignant scene occurred before Burrill finished her feat.
Six-time Honolulu Marathon champion and race hall of famer Jimmy Muindi of Kenya happened to still be in Kapiolani Park, after finishing fifth in the men's pro race and participating in the awards ceremony. When he found out Burrill was close to the finish line he rushed out to meet her on the course. She had less than 200 yards to go. Seeing that she was struggling to finish, Muindi offered her words of encouragement and told her to trust in God. Burrill called the gesture "so precious" and said that it energized her.
She and Muindi have been friends since she began walking the Honolulu Marathon in 2004. As has been their tradition, Burrill invited him to breakfast with her family the morning after the marathon.
Men
Nicholas Chelimo put on two tests to challenge the competition. They didn't respond.
Chelimo, 27 of Kenya, put on two surges to separate himself from the pack after the 21st mile, allowing him to distance himself from the pack en route to winning Sunday's Honolulu Marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 18 seconds.
"I am very happy," Chelimo said.
Chelimo's first surge two minutes into the 21st mile helped him and Richard Limo pull away from a pack of four runners. Running next to each other, Chelimo put on another surge about two minutes later near Kalani High School to pull away from Limo.
"The pace was a little bit fast, then slow, then fast slow, then slow. It was very strict," Chelimo said.
Chelimo opened up an eight-second lead at the 22nd mile mark, and his lead continued to grow down the stretch. Knowing that Limo was his biggest competition, Chelimo turned around to check behind him several times. Limo, 30 of Kenya, finished in 2:17:18.
"I knew he would close the gap," Chelimo said. "I know he's very strong."
Limo said he wanted to make a move as well, but didn't have the energy.
Chelimo finished second at October's Eindhoven Marathon in 2:07:38 and was second at Honolulu last year in 2:13:10.
"I was experienced (from) last year," Chelimo said,
The lead pack started with nine runners that ran at a slow pace. It began to thin out starting at mile 6. There were four left in the pack at the halfway point, paced by Gilbert Kirwa.
Japan's Masazumi Soejima won the wheelchair race in 1:29:51.
Women
Gebre wins debut in controversy
By Stanley Lee
A late entry won the Honolulu Marathon, though her victory is surrounded in controversy.
Belainesh Gebre, a 22-year-old Ethiopian who trains in New Mexico, was the first female finisher at Sunday's Honolulu Marathon, clocking in at 2 hours, 32 minutes, 13 seconds.
However, runner-up and defending champion Svetlana Zakharova filed a protest with the race committee. Gebre ran the race with her boyfriend, Sisay Tsegaya. An official marathon photographer had at least four shots of Tsegaya passing water to her during the race. His role in the race raised the question of whether she received illegal assistance, and the protest triggered an investigation by race officials. Gebre won by 48 seconds over Zakharova.
After reviewing photographic evidence eyewitness accounts and discussing the situation with Gebre and her boyfriend, marathon officials decided to let the results stand as determined on the course.
"We don't think there was any question the coach acted inappropriately," said Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Association. "Whether that reaches a standard for disqualification is something that reasonable people would probably disagree on."
Gebre, running in her first marathon, arrived days prior to the marathon and entered on her own. Elite runners are invited by marathon officials. Tsegaya said he wanted to run his own race but was injured on Saturday. He insisted he did not pace her, is not her coach and they just train together. Gebre has won half marathons.
Gebre pulled away early in the race, and held a two-minute lead by the 10-kilometer mark.
"I'm so surprised," Gebre said of winning her marathon debut. "I'm so happy."
Zakharova gradually closed the gap on Gebre, but the 40-year-old Russian couldn't catch up, finishing second in 2:33:01.
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