Feyisa Lelisa of Ethiopia finished second for the silver, while American Galen Rupp took bronze in his second marathon and first ever in the Olympics.
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American men won five marathon medals in the early years of the 20th century, but since 1908 there have been only four: Frank Shorter (gold in 1972, silver in 1976), Meb Keflezighi (silver, 2004) and now Rupp. Vivian Cheruiyot also won gold in the women’s 5000 metres – the first for Kenya in the competition’s history.
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s Olympic marathon with a dominating performance, running alone into the Sambadrome and finishing in two hours, eight minutes and 44 seconds on Sunday.
The former University of OR runner is competing in his third Olympics, having won silver in the 10,000m at the 2012 London Games and placing 13th at the 2008 Beijing Games.
“It was a championship and it was a bit slow, so I made a decision to take over”, he explained his strategy for the rainy day in Rio.
‘I felt I had a little bit in the tank and it was comfortable, it was very comfortable.
Not Rupp, at least not toward the end.
Kipchoge, Lilesa and Rupp broke clear of a large leading group past the 30 km mark and it became clear the medals would be decided between that trio.
“It was tough”, Rupp said. I would have been quite disappointed if I hadn’t been tabled to push forward for the final ten miles, but I think I just left myself too much to do.
Keflezighi overcame multiple issues – including a slip at the finish line – to finish 33rd.
The race curled to a three-horse battle with Kipchoge, who looked strong and focused, pulled Rupp and Feyisa as the heavens begun to open. “But I want to cap my career with a world record, yes”. “My calves were really starting to lock up”. Kipchoge won easily and looked as if he had more left in the tank, which wasn’t surprising considering he has a PR of 2:03:05 from the London Marathon earlier this year.
Blackmun said Lochte’s story also harmed Brazil in how the storyline took a great deal of attention off the Rio Games themselves.
“You’ve got an Irish shirt on, you’ve got to do everything you can to get over the finish line. I normally train every day, but when I heard the news, I started training twice a day”, he added. Rupp has only run a marathon twice in his life.
“It’s fantastic”, said Alberto Salazar, the marathon legend who serves as Rupp’s coach.
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Dromore athlete Stephen O’Gorman won the 10k event from David McKee and former junior star Wesley McDowell with Joanne Graham, Bethan Haugh giving Mourne Runners the top two places in the ladies. Later on Saturday evening, Paul Chelimo was second in the 5,000, the first American to medal in that event since 1964. “To have an American up there representing us at the highest level bodes well for the future of our sport”.
