http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/21/ghirmay-ghebreslassie-wins-marathon-world-championships-track-and-field-beijing/
Eritrean shocks favorites, becomes youngest Worlds marathon winner ever
Nick Zaccardi
Aug 21, 2015, 10:11 PM EDT
Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie became the first teenager to win an
Olympic or World Championships marathon, shocking the Kenyan and
Ethiopian favorites to open the meet in Beijing on Saturday.
Ghebreslassie, 19, won the first Olympic or World Track and Field
Championships gold medal for his country. He crossed the finish line
in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 27 seconds, winning by 40 seconds over
Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay.
The pre-race favorites finished more than two minutes behind, led by
reigning Olympic and defending World champion Stephen Kiprotich of
Uganda (sixth place; 2:14:42) and two-time Boston Marathon winner
Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia (seventh; 2:14:53).
Reigning New York City Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang and world-record
holder Dennis Kimetto, both of Kenya, failed to finish. Kimetto set
the world record of 2:02:57 at the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 28.
Ghebreslassie came into the race Saturday with a personal best over
26.2 miles of 2:07:47, set when he finished second at the Hamburg
Marathon on April 26.
The fall marathon season will begin in earnest with the Chicago
Marathon on Oct. 11.
Received on Fri Aug 21 2015 - 23:18:35 EDT