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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Monday, October 13, 2003

Honolulu titlist wins Chicago Marathon

Advertiser News Services

Russia's Svetlana Zakharova, the 2002 Honolulu Marathon winner, won the Chicago Marathon yesterday in 2:23:07.

Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania broke out on her own from the start and led by 90 seconds just after the midway point.

Zakharova, who also won this year's Boston Marathon, caught the Romanian with about five miles to go. Zakharova was second in the London Marathon last year and has won twice in Honolulu.

Tomescu-Dita was second in 2:23:35 and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia was third in 2:24:53.

In the men's race, Evans Rutto of Kenya won in his first race at the distance as his countrymen swept the top five places.

Rutto pulled away after 20 miles and ran the rest of the way by himself. His time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 50 seconds was a world best for a first-time marathoner.

Rutto, a top runner in shorter distances, was followed by Paul Koech in 2:07:07 for the 26.2 miles, more than a minute behind. Daniel Njenga, second last year, was third in 2:07:41. Peter Chebet and Jimmy Muindi completed the top five.