Kenya's John Kiprotich and Fate Tola from Ethiopia were the unexpected winners of the 28th Vienna City Marathon, whilst Haile Gebrselassie cruised to a half marathon time of 60:18.
Kiprotich, 22, improved his personal best by more than seven minutes to clock 2:08:29 in fine weather conditions.
Patrick Ivuti took second with 2:08:41 and Evans Kiplagat was third in 2:09:22. In fourth place Isaac Macharia (Kenya) also broke 2:10 with 2:09:43.
While Kenyans took the first eight places there was an Ethiopian winner in the women's race. 23 year-old Fate Tola drew away from Ana Dulce Felix in the closing stages of a thrilling race. She clocked a personal best of 2:26:21 while the Portugese finished with 2:26:30. Peninah Arusei (Kenya), who had long been in the lead, was third with 2:27:17.
For the first time in the history of the Vienna City Marathon five women clocked sub 2:30 times. Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia/2:28:08) was fourth and Elza Kireyeva (Russia/2:29:41) took fifth place.
'Catch me if you can'
Haile Gebrselassie won the half marathon with 60:18 minutes. The Ethiopian marathon world record-holder had been chasing the elite marathon runners, who had started two minutes earlier. Between 11 and 12K he already passed the leading group and was from then on running alone at the front.
"My time is okay. It is not so easy to break one hour if you are running alone and without pacemakers," said Haile Gebrselassie, who achieved an Austrian allcomer record. More than 300,000 spectators lined the streets.
Many had come to see the great Ethiopian running through their city. Fitting to the occasion organisers had put down a red carpet on the final 100 metres of the race, which finished at the Wiener Hofburg.
Kiprotich's pressure
In the first part of the men's race the favourites somehow did not quite adapt to the pace of the pacemakers. That caused the rabbits to be a couple of seconds in front of a big group again and again.
Even at the half way mark, which was reached in 63:53 minutes, they were three seconds ahead of those who should have been with them. Nonetheless the course record, which Abel Kirui (Kenya) had established three years ago with 2:07:38, was still within reach.
But somehow the experienced Kenyans like Patrick Ivuti, Nicholas Chelimo and Paul Kirui concentrated on a tactical race and were not interested in increasing the pace. By the 30K mark (1:31:31) the course record was more or less out of reach.
Additionally the two remaining pacemakers Nicholas Kiprono and Joseph Ngolepus dropped out. By 35 k the leading group of eight was reduced to four Kenyans: Patrick Ivuti, Evans Kiplagat, Joseph Maregu and John Kiprotich.
Maregu and Kiplagat could not keep up much longer and it was then John Kiprotich who applied pressure on Patrick Ivuti. With four kilometres to go the 22 year-old started to open a decisive gap.
"This was only my second marathon. If I had had more experience may be I would have taken the initiative earlier," said John Kiprotich, who has a half marathon PB of 59:23. In 2009 he had run 2:15:51 in Frankfurt. Now he improved by a big margin.
Tola's fate
The women's race developed completely different with debutant Peninah Arusei (Kenya) running quick right after the start.
She was soon all on her own and reached the half way point in 1:12:11. At 25 k (1:25:18) Arusei was still on time for a 2:24 finish and she was 1:14 minutes ahead of Ana Dulce Felix, Fate Tola and Genet Getaneh (Ethiopia).
Getaneh was the fastest in the field with a PB of 2:26:37. But before 30 k Peninah Arusei clearly began to slow and her advantage started melting quickly in the sun.
While Getaneh started faltering as well Felix, who had her own pacemaker in front of her, and Tola overtook Arusei at around 37 k. There was a tough fight for victory between Tola and Felix.
At the beginning of the final kilometre the young Ethiopian, who had come to Vienna with a personal best of 2:28:22, could break away. "After half way I knew that I would have a chance," said Fate Tola.
Adding all running events the 28th edition of the Vienna City Marathon had 32,542 entries. This is the second highest figure in the history of the event. 8,044 runners had entered the marathon.