Ramaala conquers New York
Brad Morgan
8 November 2004
Hendrick Ramaala raced to a convincing win in the New York City Marathon on Sunday, outrunning a class field to take the victory in 2:09:28. It more than made up for a disappointing showing at the Athens Olympics, where he retired after having led the race.
The South African star came home 25 seconds clear of Olympic silver medal winner Meb Keflezighi, with 2004 Boston Marathon winner Timothy Cherigat ending third.
Second SA victory
It was the second victory by a South African in the race, the first having come 12 years previously when Willie Mtolo won in a time just one second slower than Ramaala's winning effort.
"I am so happy for Hendrick", Mtolo said on hearing the news. "This is a very good thing for South Africa and goes to show that we are just as good as anybody out there."
Aggressive breakaway
Ironically, Ramaala's win came in the manner that failed to produce
glory at the Olympic Games - an aggressive breakaway designed to tear the field apart. He broke away at 26 kilometres, pulling Cherigat and another Kenyan, Enos Kibet, with him.
By 28 kilometres a third Kenyan, Christopher Cheboiboch, and Keflezghi had worked their way to the front of the field.
With 32 kilometres run, Cherigat made his bid for victory, trying to open a gap, but Ramaala simply tailed him before making the decisive move after about 37 kilometres.
It looked easy as he pulled clear of the field, eventually going on to win by 80 metres.
Ramaala picked up US$100 000 (R614 000) for the win, $30 000 (R184 000) for a time bonus, and a Smart Car.
Paula Radcliffe, who like Ramaala failed to finish in Athens, took the women's race win in 2:23:10. 37 257 people took part in the marathon.
No reason why SA should not dominate
Ray De Vries, Mtolo's long-time manager, echoed his athlete's words: "Ramaala has shown
that the word South Africa should send shivers of fear through the marathon athletes of the world - not Kenya."
"I have always said that there is no reason why South Africans should not be dominating the world of road running", De Vries went on. "The weakness is that the sport in Ramaala's home country, South Africa, does not even have an official marathon championship – or any other road running championship for that matter.
"In South Africa the athletes lead the sport and the federation, Athletics South Africa, stubbornly follows", De Vries said.
"Now is the time for Athletics South Africa to stop playing policeman to South Africa's athletes. Now is the time for ASA to provide a platform of excellence for South African athletes to go out into the world and show the world what South Africa is made of."
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