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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, April 16, 2001



Ex-U.S. marathon record-holder aims at first win

Advertiser News Services

All David Morris has to show for being a one-time American record-holder in the marathon is a piece of paper.

He doesn't have the record anymore, and he still doesn't have a marathon victory.

Morris hopes to change that today in his first appearance in the Boston Marathon.

"I would like to run faster," Morris said, referring to the U.S. record of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 32 seconds, he ran in finishing fourth at the 1999 Chicago Marathon, his career best by nearly six minutes.

Since that memorable race, in which Khalid Khannouchi set the world record of 2:05:42, Morris' performances have sagged. He is hopeful that the hills of Boston will provide him with an uplifting effort.

"I've heard it's a rough course because the downhills beat you up a lot," said Morris, a native of Eagle River, Alaska, now living in Missoula, Mont.

Being a newcomer on the demanding and exhausting course will not be beneficial to Morris, who will be facing a powerful field of tested foreigners. Included in the group of approximately 15,000 starters will be defending champion Elijah Lagat of Kenya, Olympic gold medalist and 2000 Boston runner-up Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia, two-time Boston winner Moses Tanui of Kenya, 1996 Olympic silver medalist Bong-ju Lee of South Korea and 1999 Boston champion Joseph Chebet of Kenya.

The women's field also is strong, with defending champion and Chicago Marathon winner Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, three-time Boston champion Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia, New York City Marathon winner Ludmila Petrova of Russia and 20-kilometer world record-holder Lornah Kiplagat of Kenya.

Kenyan men have won the last 10 Boston Marathons. Ndereba was the first Kenyan woman to win.

When Khannouchi won the Chicago Marathon in 1999, he was representing his native Morocco. Since then, he has become a U.S. citizen, and his 2:07:01 in Chicago last year broke Morris' American record.

AUTO RACING

• Family tradition: Ralf Schumacher added to the rich family collection of Formula One trophies, capturing his first career victory in yesterday's San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy.

The 25-year-old brother of Michael Schumacher drove his Williams-BMW car to an almost unchallenged triumph, earning the British team its first GP win since September 1997 and ending a 22-race winning streak by either Ferrari or McLaren drivers.

It also was the first time that two brothers have won F-1 Grands Prix — Michael is the reigning champion.

Schumacher clinched the prestigious win on his 70th GP start leading every lap of the 62-lap race.

He beat David Coulthard by 4.3 seconds and third-place Rubens Barrichello by 34.7 seconds in the fourth Championship race at the Ferrari home circuit in Imola.

Ralf's elder brother withdrew during his 24th lap to the disappointment of thousands of Ferrari fans who had been hoping for his third win this season.

END QUOTE

• Jeff Van Gundy, Knicks coach, on the chapel services many players attend before every game:

"The two worst things to happen in the NBA used to be alcohol and women. Now it's God and golf . . . Everyone is hugging before games, praying together. The interaction between opposing sides before games, the fraternization, is wrong for the league."