Athletics Athens Marathon: They staged a major test run here yesterday ahead of their hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games, which is now just over nine months away. In the end it merely confirmed what was already suspected - that the marathon is going to be one of the truly magical events of the Games, and also one of the most difficult to win.

For 21 years now the Athens Classic Marathon has been re-enacting the legendary 26-mile run of the young soldier who carried news of the Greek victory over the Persians. And then promptly died. The same route, from the town of Marathon and across hills into the centre of Athens, was used when the Olympic Games were revived here in 1896, and once again will be the centrepiece of the athletic events next August.

In other words, not simply another marathon course - but the real thing.

Yesterday, the event organisers had the Olympic organisers in tow, testing out everything from water stations to the best TV camera positions. It had the feel of a major event too, attracting 3,970 entries from 62 countries.

Several leading Africans were also drawn to the event, some of which hope to be back next August when a lot more is at stake. What they soon realised is that the race for the Olympic title is going to be as much a battle against the course and its elements as it is the other contenders. Put simply, this is one of the most unforgiving and physically draining marathon courses around.

Winning on the day was the 27-year-old Zerebayo Bavo of Tanzania. His time of two hours, 16 minutes, 59 seconds wouldn't normally turn heads, being some 12 minutes short of the world record, and eight minutes short of his own best. But on this course, and with a hot sun for company, it was impressive.

Also impressive was how Bavo almost ran equal splits, passing halfway in 68:08, lying then in second position. Shortly before that point the course takes a dramatic turn for the worse, and continues on unrelentingly uphill until 20 miles.

It does descend for the final six miles into Athens but by then the legs are sapped of all strength.

Bavo was followed home by six Kenyan runners in succession, the best being runner-up Stephen Rugut in 2:17.06. Only the top-11 finishers broke 2:30, with another of the fancied Kenyans, last year's winner Marc Saino, clocking 2:30.29. Kenyans normally run that sort of time in training.

Summing it up perfectly was Bavo. "It was great to win," he said, "but I never ran anything like it in the world."

Obviously then there were plenty of tired looking athletes at the finish, set in the historic marble surroundings of the Panathinaiko Stadium. The temperature there read 25 degrees celsius and it was still before noon. The heat factor next August, even though the marathons will start at six o'clock in the evening, will be significantly greater.

The women didn't fare any better. Nadja Wijenberg of the Netherlands paced herself wisely to finish in 2:43.18, hardly world class, but well clear of Greek hope Georgia Ampatzidou, who clocked 2:46.47.

Yet for Paula Radcliffe, who holds that astonishing women's world record of 2:15.25, the reports from this race won't cause too many sleepless nights in her countdown to next August.

The opening 10 miles are largely flat and should allow her to open her now trademark gap. If she can survive the hills - not to mention the heat - then the relatively comfortable closing miles should allow her to sustain her push towards the finish.

While yesterday's event appeared to go off without a hitch - including the transport by bus at 6.30 a.m. of all the runners for the start in Marathon two hours later - the course remains a little unsightly and vacant in parts as the extensive road works continue.

The top Irish finisher, incidentally, was this correspondent in 39th position, clocking a truly exhausting 2:51.56. His race though was always more of a journey into the history of the marathon.

Ian O'Riordan's full report will appear in next Saturday's Sports Supplement.

In New York meanwhile Martin Lel left fellow Kenyan and defending champion Rodgers Rop in his wake to win the City's marathon crown as compatriot Margaret Okayo took the women's race in a course record time.

Lel, the world half-marathon champion, clocked two hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds.