ATHLETICS/Dublin City Marathon: Wet. Soaking wet. Heavy, stiffening, soaking wet. Rarely has the Dublin marathon seemed less about finishing and more about getting back on dry land. At least no one drowned.
Not that Dmytro Osadchy cared. The 28-year-old Ukrainian splashed through the final miles intent on winning, not just finishing, and in the end did so in impressive style. He crossed the finish line on Merrion Square in two hours, 13 minutes and 14 seconds - just six seconds outside the race record but a personal best - and in the process defied both the rain and predictions.
Osadchy was greeted by clearing skies, and the winning cheque for €15,000.
For the 10,000 runners stretched back out the course, the pending sunshine would be a gift from the marathon gods. Yet the business end of yesterday's race was played out in persistent rain. If cars had been involved the track would have been deemed hazardous.
The rain appeared to scare off most of the leading Africans. None of the fancied Kenyans made the podium, South Africa's Neo Molema probably surprising himself (and definitely the organisers) by taking second in 2:14:09.
Molema wore number 3828 because he'd entered - like most people - using the marathon website. He'd done the Cardiff marathon just two weeks ago ("as a training run") and yesterday came very close to causing one of the biggest upsets in marathon history. His €10,000 prize was nice consolation though.
Third place went to Oleg Belhovets of Russia in 2:14:25 - ensuring the African dominance of recent years was further eroded. Marco Mambo of Zimbabwe (2:14:53) and Tomas Abyu of South Africa (2:15:23) were next home, but only five of the top 10 finishers were African. Last year all of them were.
Belhovets wasn't done working for the day, however, as he then acted as interpreter for Osadchy and fellow Russian Zinaida Semenova, winner of the woman's race in 2:32:52 - neither of whom had a word of English.
"It was a strategic win," Osadchy explained. "I was happy to reserve a lot for a strong finish. And this was only my third marathon. The rain was not so good but at least there was no wind. And I think the course is quite fast." He then inquired about his wife, Olga Nevkapsa, but she wasn't to feature among the leading women.
Osadchy indeed finished the 26.2 miles with incredible reserves. At least a dozen were still in contention when they passed halfway (13.1 miles) in a cautious 68 minutes, five seconds. But the Ukrainian bided his time before making his decisive surge down Merrion Road to open an 80-metre lead between 23 and 24 miles. He increased his tempo all the way to finish, covering the second half in 65:09.
For a long time though the race resembled a mystery novel, awaiting the final twist. Osadchy had first shown at 10 miles, which the leaders passed in 52:08, but Molema, Mambo and Abyu had all tried to break the field at various stages. Once Osadchy made his move, however, the Africans became also-rans. Semeretu Alemayehu of Ethiopia, with a frightening best of 2:07:45, could only manage 11th in 2:22:27.
The race for the top Irish finisher was also suspended until the closing miles before Gary Crossan finally saw off the challenge of Pauric McKinney and Jerry O'Neill. The tough Donegal man posted 2:23:19, good enough for 13th - and for the fourth successive year that also earned him the title of Irish champion.
McKinney, also from Donegal and recently turned 40, was just a few strides behind in 2:23:29.
O'Neill's performance as third-best Irish finisher just behind them came with a remarkable footnote. Now based in England, O'Neill had last run the Dublin marathon back in 1981 - as a 13-year-old - and remembers holding hands with his father, Gerry senior, when crossing the line in around 3:19.
"Three years ago I started back running to lose some weight," explained O'Neill, whose father was among the first to congratulate him. "I just caught the bug again, but I'm still well shocked with that."
He was in fact briefly on course to be the first Irishman. Crossan had to make a toilet stop at 18 miles, but gradually closed down O'Neill and McKinney.
"That was my toughest one ever," admitted Crossan. "So I don't want to think about the five-in-a-row for a while yet."
Pauline Curley of Tullamore conquered her marathon fears to be the first Irishwoman home. The 37-year-old was making her debut, and admittedly adopted a cautious race plan. In the end she finished in 2:42:16 - good enough for seventh overall - and well clear of the second-placed Irishwoman, Lucy Brennan of Sligo, who clocked 2:48:08 in 10th place.
"Maybe I do like the longer distances after all," joked Curley. "I think I was a little too conservative at the start, but this was a big step up for me. And I'd like to go again sometime, and maybe break the 2:40 mark."
With more aggressive tactics Curley might well have challenged Semenova, who became the third Russian winner of the race in the past four years. Now aged 42, and surprisingly burly for a marathoner, Semenova only took up running aged 30. Through Belhovets she struggled to explain what winning meant to her, but didn't hesitate when asked what she'd do with her €15,000: "Buy a new car."
As the prizewinners headed for the podium it was hard not to feel a little sorry for Molema, who'd submitted his on-line entry on the closing date. He'd made several attempts to get away, but couldn't quite match the Ukrainian's surges in the final miles. "I still feel quite fresh," he admitted. "And I'm quite happy with second. Maybe I'll go one better next time." It's fair to assume the South African will be on the invitation list next year.
Both wheelchair races were won emphatically. John Glynn, the 19-year-old from Dublin, produced a superb marathon debut to win the men's division in 2:14:08 - all the more impressive considering he's previously concentrated on sprints.
And Patrice Dockery took another women's title when coming home in 2:34:29.
HowTheyFinished
Men
1 D Osadchy (Ukr) 2:13:14
2 N Molema (SA) 2:14:09
3 O Belhovets (Rus) 2:14:25
4 M Mambo (Zim) 2:14:53
5 T Abyu (SA) 2:15:23
6 M Iveruk (Ukr) 2:15:48
7 D Makori (Ken) 2:17:09
8 M Smith (Eng) 2:17:51
9 M Ngaseke (Zim) 2:19:56
10 T Mpolokeng (SA) 2:21:25
Irish finishers
(incorporating AAI national championships)
13 G Crossan 2:23:09
14 P McKinney 2:23:29
15 G O'Neill 2:23:51
20 N Collier 2:31:59
23 J Byrne 2:34:58
Wheelchair division
1 J Glynn (Ire) 2:14:08
Women
1 Z Semenova (Rus) 2:32:52
2 L Zousko (Rus)2:33:25
3 A Kibore (Ken) 2:34:58
4 V Klimina (Rus) 2:38:04
5 M Jimma (Eth) 2:41:47
6 B Dagne (Eng) 2:41:54
7 P Curley (Ire) 2:42:16
8 T Birra (Eth) 2:44:36
9 M Oberer (NZ) 2:45:10
10 L Brennan (Ire) 2:48:08
Other Irish
16 F Keane 2:57:27
17 T Guilfoyle 2:58:27
18 A Paul 2:59:04
Wheelchair division
1 P Dockery (Ire) 2:34:29
