Sprint Gets Her a Bonus
- Share via
The conditions were perfect.
So, as it turns out, was Lidiya Grigoryeva’s strategy.
On a clear and crisp Sunday morning that seemed made for record-setting performances, the Russian runner waited patiently for an opportunity, then showed off her kick in the final quarter-mile of the 21st Los Angeles Marathon to win the women’s race and also the $100,000 Banco Popular Challenge.
Grigoryeva sprinted away from Ethiopia’s Gete Wami and also crossed the finish line ahead of Kenya’s Benson Cherono, who won the men’s race in a course-record time but could not overcome the 16-minute 46-second head start given to the women as part of the challenge.
Grigoryeva, a two-time Olympian in the 10,000-meter event, finished in a women’s record 2 hours 25 minutes 10 seconds and broke the tape 16 seconds ahead of Cherono.
“I didn’t think about the challenge, about the $100,000,” Grigoryeva said through an interpreter. “I was thinking about making a good time, a personal best and try to win the race.”
The finish was closer than last year and highlighted a race that drew a record 25,256 participants, according to marathon officials.
Grigoryeva, 32, earned $155,000 in prize money and bonuses as well as a new car valued at about $40,000. She collected $100,000 for winning the challenge, $35,000 for winning the women’s race and $20,000 for finishing in less than 2:26.
Cherono, who clocked 2:08:40, also enjoyed a profitable day, earning $35,000 and a car for his victory and collecting a $25,000 bonus for finishing in less than 2:09.
But Cherono could not repeat the feat of countryman Mark Saina, who won last year’s challenge.
Cherono, 21, ran with a group of Kenyans who took turns sharing the lead through 21 miles, then broke from the pack and ran alone in pursuit of the women and the challenge bonus. The strategy put him on track for his second marathon victory but handicapped his chances of catching the women.
“I didn’t have somebody to push me,” he said.
Meanwhile, Grigoryeva, Wami and Lyubov Denisova of Russia were locked in a battle through 23 miles.
Last year, Denisova won the L.A. Marathon for the second time in a women’s record 2:26:11. But she lost the challenge -- which featured a differential of 15:50 -- when Kenya’s Ben Maiyo and Saina passed her in the 25th mile.
Organizers recalculated the differential this year to reflect the exact time between the men’s and women’s course records, so Denisova knew she would have to better her 2005 time to win a challenge bonus that has increased from $50,000 to $75,000 to $100,000 in three years.
Denisova, however, said she was forced to run in the lead spot from the outset because Wami, who has run a 2:22 marathon, would not push the pace.
“She was slowing the pace instead of picking up the pace,” Denisova said through an interpreter.
Denisova dropped back in the 23rd mile, leaving Grigoryeva and Wami to battle to the finish with Cherono giving chase.
It was just the kind of race Grigoryeva had been prepared to run.
She grew up on a community farm in a village near Cheboksary, a fertile area for producing Russian distance runners, and made her mark as a 10,000-meter specialist.
However, she said the marathon had long been her goal, and she announced her arrival by winning last year’s Paris Marathon in 2:27:01, lowering her personal record by nearly five minutes.
In January, she ran as a pace-setter in the Osaka Marathon in Japan and said she learned more about the intricacies of navigating 26.2 miles.
On Sunday, Grigoryeva stayed with Wami and Denisova despite an upset stomach that she said was caused by the difference in American and Russian food.
After Denisova fell off the pace, Grigoryeva tried to break free from Wami at a Mile 24 water station. But Wami kept pace as they headed into the homestretch.
Grigoryeva, however, launched into a sprint about 400 yards from the finish line and Wami could not answer.
Neither could Cherono.
“You have to be patient,” Grigoryeva said. “You have to pace yourself through the whole distance.”
*
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
L.A. Marathon top finishers
TOP 50 MEN
*--* 1. Benson Cherono, Kenya...2:08:40 2. Laban Kipkemboi, Kenya...2:10:08 3. Simon Wangai, Kenya...2:10:35 4. Thomas Omwenga, Kenya...2:11:47 5. Habte Jifar, Ethiopia...2:12:39 6. Robert Kiprotich Cheruiyot, Kenya...2:14:26 7. Mikhail Khobotov, Russia...2:15:05 8. Nicholas Murei, Kenya...2:15:23 9. John Kagwe, Kenya...2:15:32 10. Odilon Rojas, Mexico...2:16:44 11. David Kemboi, Kenya...2:16:52 12. Alfredo Carmona, Mexico...2:17:07 13. Carlos Carballo, Cathedral City...2:19:12 14. Steve Moreno, Oakland...2:19:30 15. Ibrahim Limo, Kenya...2:20:43 16. Christopher Banks, Alexandria, Va....2:21:44 17. John Lucas, Eugene, Ore....2:21:53 18. Sergio Reyes, Lancaster...2:23:06 19. Cristian Villavicencio, Nicaragua...2:23:37 20. Arturo Delgado, Mexico...2:26:08 21. Motofumi Amano, Japan...2:26:11 22. Lemma Alemayehu, Ethiopia...2:27:49 23. Sequen Fermin, Guatemala...2:31:08 24. Antonio Arce, Mammoth Lakes...2:32:46 25. Jose Ortiz Pina, Gardena...2:33:18 26. Andres De La Cruz Toma, Guatm....2:33:35 27. Eswin Eulegio Racancoj, Guatm....2:34:05 28. Thaddeus Reichley, Santa Monica...2:34:05 29. Fritz Van De Kamp, Pasadena...2:34:28 30. Juan Ramiez, U.S....2:35:29 31. Scott Floyd, Tucson, Ariz....2:36:00 32. Catalino Y. Ramirez, Guatemala...2:36:08 33. Russell Boore, Hampton, Ill....2:36:12 34. Bethuel Akuma, Houston...2:36:17 35. Sergei Lukin, Russia...2:37:10 36. Oscar Amia, Los Angeles...2:37:48 37. David Siegel, Berkeley...2:37:56 38. Hector Lopez, Gardena...2:38:35 39. Rafael Yax Tzoc, Guatemala...2:38:58 40. Miguel Ramirez, Los Angeles...2:39:30 41. Ricardo Alcaraz, Whittier...2:39:44 42. Mike Davies, Santa Monica...2:41:57 43. Matthew Tabor, Bowling Green, Ky....2:43:04 44. Sabino Beltran, North Hills...2:43:07 45. Richard Boulet, Oakland...2:43:14 46. Hector Ochoa, Santa Ana...2:43:21 47. Stephen Smith, Newbury Park...2:43:25 48. Aniceto Espinoza-Chavez, Burbank...2:43:33 49. Marcos Rivera, Downey...2:44:42 50. Rob Beamer, Santa Barbara...2:45:18
*--*
*
TOP 50 WOMEN
*--* 1. Lidiya Grigoryeva, Russia...2:25:10 2. Gete Wami, Ethiopia...2:25:26 3. Lyubov Denisova, Russia...2:26:18 4. Nuta Olaru, Romania...2:30:30 5. Irina Safarova, Russia...2:34:45 6. Tatyana Pozdnyakova, Ukraine...2:35:46 7. Lyudmyla Pushkina, Ukraine...2:41:15 8. Christine Lundy, Sausalito...2:43:14 9. Supina Mapon, Santa Monica...2:57:57 10. Sarah Hallas, Two Rock...2:58:35 11. Maryn Cook, Los Angeles...3:04:26 12. Mary Kenney, Manhattan Beach...3:04:42 13. Emily Mitchell, Los Angeles...3:07:00 14. Magarita Conde Malin, Guatemala...3:08:18 15. Valerie Poulos, Los Angeles...3:10:39 16. Alessia Bertolino, Newport Beach...3:10:57 17. Sharyon Johns, New Zealand...3:12:00 18. Angelina T. Conelio, Guatemala...3:12:16 19. Laura Aceves, Lomita...3:12:19 20. Cinthya Vielma, Chile...3:12:23 21. Katie Sobczak, Venice...3:12:28 22. Bari Ramberg, Beverly Hills...3:18:09 23. Laurel Adair, Los Angeles...3:18:30 24. Linda Rosenthal, La Canada...3:19:55 25. Paola Fernandez, Los Angeles...3:20:02 26. Edith Martinez, Brea...3:20:05 27. Yuka Shiho, Japan...3:20:13 28. Gillian Mintier, Los Angeles...3:20:18 29. Debbie Strosnider, Temecula...3:20:33 30. Laurie Meacham, Santa Monica...3:22:42 31. Jane Allardice, Australia...3:22:44 32. Lorena Salazar, Winnetka...3:23:34 33. Katie Tapia, Ventura...3:24:13 34. Deborah Crowell, Ventura...3:24:33 35. Tanya Zeferjahn, Victorville...3:24:36 36. Yoshie Nakajima, Japan...3:24:58 37. Denise Allman, Chicago, Ill....3:25:06 38. Candace Bunt, Murrieta...3:25:16 39. Jen Stadtlander, Henderson, Nev....3:25:22 40. Rossana Robinson, Westlake Vill....3:25:49 41. Elke Schragl, Long Beach...3:25:51 42. Juliet Morgan, Santa Monica...3:26:18 43. Carrie Blakemore, Carpinteria...3:26:24 44. Kristen Trubee, Palm Desert...3:26:55 45. Jannifer Heiner, Pasadena...3:27:00 46. Meghan Matthews, Azusa...3:27:00 47. Lauren Kearney, San Diego...3:27:16 48. Lindsey Finch, Cambridge, Mass....3:27:17 49. Dana Crawley, Laguna Beach...3:27:39 50. Alice Perlowski, Los Angeles...3:27:44
*--*
*
TOP 20 WHEELCHAIR
*--* 1. Ernst Van Dyk, South Africa...1:24:48 2. Aaron Gordian, Mexico...1:32:10 3. Kurt Fearnley, Australia...1:32:10 4. Saul Mendoza, Wimberley, Texas...1:36:34 5. Alfonso Zaragoza, Mexico...1:36:36 6. Kenny Herriot, Britain...1:37:55 7. Jeff Adams, Canada...1:40:32 8. Adam Bleakney, Savoy, Ill....1:42:17 9. Tim Patterson, Maricopa, Ariz....1:45:31 10. Dongho Jung, Monterey Park...1:52:46 11. Edwin Figueroa, Los Angeles...1:52:47 12. Shirley Reilly, Tucson, Ariz....1:55:23 13. Jungho Park, Monterey Park...1:57:46 14. Miriam Ladner, Urbana, Ill....1:58:00 15. Graciela Ayala, Mexico...1:58:20 16. Chris Kohlee, Lake Elsinore...2:04:08 17. Ariadne Hernandez, Mexico...2:04:09 18. Luis Medina Guillen, Mexico...2:05:14 19. Renzo Martinez, Boca Raton, Fla....2:07:40 20. Yunoh Lee, Monterey Park...2:08:06
*--*
*
TOP 20 WHEELCHAIR CRANK
*--* 1. John Scott Gilger, Lagrange, Ohio...1:27:14 2. Marc Aten, Moorpark...1:27:16 3. Chris Fuller, Poway...1:27:28 4. Jose Hernandez, Chula Vista...1:35:57 5. Alain Bampel, Los Angeles...1:40:42 6. Rich Wagner, San Diego...1:41:47 7. Rodger Robinson, Lodi...1:44:01 8. Dale Beck, Poway...1:44:47 9. Michael Trujillo, Huntington Beach...1:44:48 10. Peter Greenwood, Madison, Wis....1:51:06 11. Mark Tracy, San Diego...1:51:38 12. Fred Liebel, San Diego...1:54:40 13. Tim Gustafson, New York...1:56:39 14. Alvin Uttecht, Anaheim...1:56:56 15. Melynda Schnee, Aurora, Ill....2:03:15 16. Chris Houde, Carmichael...2:03:49 17. Sergio Calderon, Norwalk...2:03:54 18. Johnny Storm, Blackstone, Mass....2:05:33 19. Sandra Renfro, Santee...2:08:28 20. David Mccoy, Irvine...2:12:34
*--*
*
MEN’S AGE-GROUP WINNERS
*--* 17-and-under: Oscar Amia, Los Angeles...2:37:48
*--*
*--* 18-24: Benson Cherono, Kenya...2:08:40
*--*
*--* 25-29: Laban Kipkemboi, Kenya...2:10:08
*--*
*--* 30-34: Habte Jifar, Ethiopia...2:12:39
*--*
*--* 35-39: John Kagwe, Kenya...2:15:32
*--*
*--* 40-44: Jose Ortiz Pina, Gardena...2:33:18
*--*
*--* 45-49: Stephen Smith, Newbury Park...2:43:25
*--*
*--* 50-54: Heribert Prang, Germany...2:48:00
*--*
*--* 55-59: Yoshihisa Hosaka, Japan...2:46:34
*--*
*--* 60-64: Jesus Diaz, Anaheim...3:14:58
*--*
*--* 65-69: James Toyoma, Los Angeles...2:55:34
*--*
*--* 70-74: Donald Brown, Laguna Niguel...4:05:27
*--*
*--* 75-79: Yoshio Nishino, Japan...4:02:23
*--*
*--* 80-98: Sovann Sry, Long Beach...4:46:07
*--*
*
WOMEN’S AGE-GROUP WINNERS
*--* 17-and-under: Angel Hansen, Newprt Bch...3:31:54
*--*
*--* 18-24 Gillian Mintier, Los Angeles...3:20:18
*--*
*--* 25-29 Supina Mapon, Santa Monica...2:57:57
*--*
*--* 30-34 Lidiya Grigoryeva, Russia...2:25:10
*--*
*--* 35-39 Nuta Olaru, Romania...2:30:30
*--*
*--* 40-44 Lyudmyla Pushkina, Ukraine...2:41:15
*--*
*--* 45-49 Magarita Conde Malin, Guatemala...3:08:18
*--*
*--* 50-54 Tatyana Pozdnyakova, Ukraine...2:35:46
*--*
*--* 55-59 Alfreda Iglehart, Los Angeles...3:45:04
*--*
*--* 60-64 Eva Von Bromssen, San Carlos...4:08:59
*--*
*--* 65-69 Marilyn Clark, Marina del Rey...4:14:47
*--*
*--* 70-74 Virginia Lespron, El Monte...5:51:25
*--*
*--* 75-79 Byungye Kim, Hacienda Heights...6:12:34
*--*
*--* 80-98 Margaret Davis, Azusa...5:41:59
*--*
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.