23.04.2007

Fearnley pipped, Johnson proud to finish in London heat

World No. 7 Benita Johnson finished seventh in Sunday's Flora London Marathon while Paralympian Kurt Fearnley's sensational streak finally came to an end.

Competing against a star-studded field and determined to stamp her authority on the race, Johnson went out hard early in the first 5km of the women’s event, clocking 16:24.

However in the hot and humid conditions, the 2004 World Cross Country champion dropped off the frenetic pace and fought bravely to hold onto the lead group as it passed the 15km mark.

The 27-year-old held sixth position for most of the race before being overtaken by Kenyan Salina Kosgel at the 35km mark.

Well off her Australian record time of 2:22.36 set in Chicago last year, Johnson finished in seventh place in 2:29:47.

Asian Games gold medallist Zhou Chunxiu of China, 28, was the eventual winner, crossing the finishing line in 2:20:38, the fastest time in the world so far this year.

Ethiopian Gete Wami, who had been at Zhou’s shoulder throughout the race until her late burst, finished more than a minute adrift in 2:21:45, with Romania’s Constantina Tomescu-Dita running a patient race to come through for third in 2:23:55.

“It was disappointing because I came here to run to win and to do that you have got to take some risks,” explained Johnson after the race.

“The first half of the race was a bit too fast for me in these conditions. I was really struggling all the way through the second half.

“I could have run conservatively and run for third, fourth or fifth place but that is not what it is all about.

“I am very proud of my effort and that I finished. It would have been very easy to pull out today.”

With four marathons now credited to her name, the invaluable experience will greatly assist Johnson as she looks to compete in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics next year.

“I am not that discouraged, I ran sub 2:30 and to do that in this kind of weather is something good to take away from here.”

Johnson now returns to Australia for a three-week break to recuperate and attend her brother’s wedding before commencing her 10,000m campaign on the track at the World Championships in Osaka.

Kurt Fearnley’s string of seven consecutive victories in 2007 has been broken by arch-rival and home-town hero David Weir in the wheelchair section of the London Marathon.

Fearnley and Weir were neck and neck for the entire race until Weir unleashed his phenomenal sprint finish to defeat the Australian Paralympic champion by just one second, recording his third victory in London.

In a photo finish, Weir crossed the line in 1:30:49, the second fastest time on the course.

“That was possibly one of the toughest races I’ve ever done. You can talk about the rivalry between England and Australia but you won’t get a better race between two guys battling it out,” a disappointed Fearnley told awaiting media after the race.

“Full credit to David, he just kept attacking and he fully deserves to win.”

Kenya’s Martin Lel took the honours in the men’s race in 2:07:41, three seconds ahead of Abderrahim Goumri (Mar) with last year’s champion, Felix Limo (Ken), third in 2:07:44.

A record field of 36,500 started the 27th London Marathon, but also had to endure record temperatures, with the bulk of the field having to plod its way through the final miles with thermometers registering 23 degrees in the shade.

The Flora London Marathon is a member of the World Marathon Majors - a series consisting of five of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world.