Berhane Adere Moves Into Tie For Second Place in World Marathon Majors Series

Robert Cheruiyot maintains lead in men’s division of 2006-7 series

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7, 2007 constituted the ninth and penultimate event in the inaugural 2006-7 World Marathon Majors series. Both the men’s and women’s races unfolded in dramatic fashion, with Patrick Ivuti (KEN) taking the men’s crown by just 0.05 seconds from Jaouad Gharib (MAR), and Berhane Adere (ETH) producing a devastating finish to deny Adriana Pirtea (ROU).

Defending men’s champion Robert Cheruiyot (KEN) placed fourth here, though that will not impact his position at the top of the 2006-7 WMM standings. With 75 points coming into this race, plus an additional five here, Cheruiyot is in an unassailable position and is assured of claiming the $500,000 prize once the series concludes in New York on November 4.

The minor placings, in contrast, can still see plenty of action. Haile Gebreselassie moved into second position with his world-record win in Berlin on September 30, though The LaSalle Bank Chicago and ING New York City Marathon races will prompt still more shuffling. Ivuti’s 25 points in Chicago move him into equal fifth position, where he is joined by four others, including Chicago third-place finisher Daniel Njenga (KEN). Gharib, second here (15 points), moves into 10th in the WMM rankings, having already placed fourth in the Flora London Marathon in April. In contrast to Cheruiyot’s standing at the top of the table, down below there is still much to be resolved.