Tola, Ndereba both win at NYC Half-Marathon

Jul 27, 2008 - 4:28 PM By Simon Lewis PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Tadesse Tola upset the odds to win Sunday's NYC Half-Marathon in a duel with Patrick Makau as Catherine Ndereba underlined her status as a favorite in next month's Olympic marathon with victory in the women's race.

Makau, 23, of Kenya had come into the race unbeaten in four half-marathons in 2008 but after battling head-to-head with 20-year-old Ethiopian Tola from the fifth of 13.1 miles, it was the younger runner who edged home in a sprint finish.

Tola won in one hour and 58 seconds with Makau a second behind in 1:00:59. United States Olympic marathoner Dathan Ritzenhein, 25, was third in 1:01:38 in his final race before the Olympic men's marathon in Beijing on August 24.

"This tells me I'm in a good place for future," Tola said. "This was the biggest victory in my career."

Tola and Makau had made it a two-man race five miles into the 7.5 mile opening loop of Central Park, having dropped main rivals Ritzenhein, Felix Limo and Richard Maiyo.

As they came out of Central Park and went down through Times Square towards the finish in Lower Manhattan's Battery Park, the leading duo played a high tempo game of cat and mouse, testing each other with surges of speed before Tola finally broke away over the final mile to win the $10,000 check for first place.

"I was confident in my own finishing speed," Tola said.

Ndereba, 36, the reigning world marathon champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, showed she is a big contender for next month's Beijing marathon as she regained her NYC Half-Marathon title.

The inaugural women's winner in 2006, Ndereba had trailed Mexico's Madai Perez and Yuri Kano of Japan over the opening half of the race before joining the leaders with around four miles to go.

A mile from the finish line, Ndereba made her move to finish in 1:10:19 with Olympic marathon rival Perez, 28, seven seconds back in 1:10:26 and Kano, 29, third in 1:10:31.

"After 12 miles I was pushing hard, trying to push it a little harder," Ndereba said. "I surprised myself."

Colleen De Reuck, 44, was the first American woman home in fifth place, clocking 1:12:03. There was disappointment for Australia's Benita Johnson, the 2006 runner-up, who finished 11th in 1:14:14, the first time she has finished outside the top three in a half marathon in seven career races.

Running his first road race of the year, Ritzenhein was pleased with his effort as he heads into the Olympics.

"I came in really feeling strong the last few miles, and that is a good sign for me leading into Beijing," Ritzenhein said. "This was a great last test for the Olympics, perfect for me. I am really thrilled with this."