London Olympics 2012 Men's Marathon
Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda won the men’s Olympic marathon August 13, 2012, in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 1 second, holding off the Kenyan duo of Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang. Wilson Kipsang was seemingly in control early in the day. He was out front and running all alone, before fading back to the pack. Abel Kirui from Kenya caught up with him while Kiprotich followed just behind. At the 23-mile mark, Kiprotich turned the corner and was gone. No one could catch him as he won only the third medal ever for Uganda in track and field and the first since 1996. After finishing, he dropped to his knees, bowed and then raised his hands high over his head. The Kenyans, who were looking at a possible podium sweep, just couldn't keep up. Athletes run along Westminster Bridge next to the Palace of Westminster as they compete in the Men's Marathon on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games Kirui finished 26 seconds behind Kiprotich, while Kipsang, the leader much of the race, faded late but held on for bronze just ahead of American Meb Keflezighi. Within seconds of each other, U.S. marathoners Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahman were out of the Olympic race. First, Hall, a medal favorite, dropped out around the 11-mile mark with a tight right hamstring. Then, Abdirahman called it a day because of an aching right knee. "I felt like I was favoring my stride and didn't want to get injured," said Hall, who lives in Flagstaff, Ariz. Keflezighi, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., used a strong finish to make up ground and finish fourth. He won silver at the Athens Games eight years ago. "Fourth is not the place I wanted to finish, but fourth in the world? I'll take it," he said.

Comments

This is an interesting analysis of the men's marathon: http://www.albertostretti.org/2012/08/marathon-mendeep-analysis-by-renato.html
Gary Funck 8/13/12 8:31 pm

This is the best video I could find on the men's Olympic Marathon yesterday. It is far from NBC coverage but since I was travelling all day yesterday I did not have a chance to see any of it on TV. We did know before the start of the Falmouth Road Race that Meb finished fourth. It is an honor to have Meb part of our Ujena Fit Club.
Bob Anderson 8/13/12 3:15 pm