News Archive

On a typical warm and humid late afternoon in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico,

(90F, 70%), Gilbert Okari continued his amazing US summer running, by

winning his 6th Major American Road Race this July and August.

Only a wrong turn nearing the finish, cost him the course record of

2004 winner, Joshua Chelanga,28.29, Okari ran 28.41. Defending Champion

Chelanga and Boston Marathon Champion, Robert K. Cheruiyot are gearing

up for the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON in 4 weeks time

Okari will return to Kenya this week and hope for a call from the

Kenyan Federation to be selected for the IAAF World Half Marathon

Championships in Edmonton. Then Gilbert will pace the first 15km of the

LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October 9th for teammate Evans Rutto.

The Abraham Rosa event started out with Wilson Kiprotich, John Korir

and Paul Kosgei exchanging the lead for the first 4 kms. Just after

4km, Okari shot to the lead and only briefly glanced back at Wilson

Kiprotich at 8km, who remained between 30-50 meters until Okari made a

wrong turn which cost him the record and the event, as Kiprotich almost

caught Okari off guard. Okari earned $8k for his smooth running. 41

year old Lourdes Cruz won the womans event in 37.52

1.Gilbert Okari-Kenya-28.41

2.Wilson Kiprotich-Kenya-28.42

3.John Korir-Kenya-28.45

4.Robert K. Cheruiyot-Kenya-29.05

5.Benson Barus-Kenya-29.07

6.Julius Kibet-Kenay-29.14

7.Reuben Chebii-Kenya-29.15

8.Paul Kosgei-Kenya-29.29

9.Simion Kamau-Kenya-29.46

10.Tibebu Yenew-Ethiopia-30.01