23.08.2009

Berlin Day 9 - Women's marathon - LIVE

Lisa Weightman lines up in this morning's women's marathon in a field of 73 competitors at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on the final day of action at the world championships.

Weightman has been in great form in 2009 and comes into today's race fresh from a personal best time of 1.10.42 over the half marathon, recorded on the Gold Coast in July.

The early favourites for today's race, world record-holder Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain) and German hope Irina Mikitenko, both pulled out in the last few weeks.

Radcliffe has not recovered from foot surgery that included the transfer of a tendon and trimming of two metatarsals.

Mikitenko cites bad form for her absence which leaves China's Olympic bronze medallist Chunxiu Zhou as favourite.

At the 5km mark Weightman is in 51st position, 22 seconds behind a lead pack of more than 40 runners. The 30-year-old Melburnian has a personal best time of 2.32.22, set when placing 13th in her first marathon in London last year.

At last year's Olympics Weightman endured the tough conditions to place 33rd in 2.34.16 in only her second marathon.

Through the 10km mark the Victorian is 58 seconds behind the lead group of more than 15 runners and splits 36.01.

In Beijing Australia had three athletes in the field, but a combination of a change of focus and a year's sabbatical for Benita Johnson and Kate Smyth respectively means we have no representation in today's teams race.

Now at 15km, Zhou continues to lead a large pack of 25 and the Australian is in 41st with 53.38, one minute 28 seconds behind.

Through 20km the lead pack is still some 24 athletes strong.

The heat has forced the withdrawal of several competitors already and Weightman is moving through the field and at the halfway mark is into 34th position with 1.15.12.

The lead pack has started to force the pace with the quickest 5km split of the race so far. Thirteen runners make up the lead group. Weightman continues to improve her position now at 29th in 1.46.49, 2.16 behind the leaders.

With just over 5km to go the lead pack has dwindled to three. Xue Bai, Aselefech Mergia and Yoshimi Ozaki go through 35km in 2.01.04 and Weightman picks off some more now into 23rd in 2.04.47. There are several other in front of her who are losing positions rapidly. Weightman could grab a top 20 position if she keeps this up.

Australia's best finish is 15th place by the late Kerryn McCann in Gothenburg in 1995.

Bai wins in 2.25.15, Ozaki is second with 2.25.25 and Mergia gets the bronze seven seconds further back.

Weightman now comes across the line  in 18th with a personal best time of 2.30.42 thanks to a fantastic second half. Great running in the hot conditions.

Weightman said she was in pretty good shape at the end of the race.

“I felt good at 10km, it was good to come home and be passing people instead of them passing you,” she said.

“I have only run three of these things (marathons), so I have a lot to learn but this one was good, it felt good except for about three or four k's.

“I was pretty safe, you have to be because of the heat. I’ll try to run a cooler one and see what I can really do.”

Weightman recorded the equal second highest placing by an Australian in the women's marathon at a world championships, joining Sue Mahony in placing 18th and trailing only McCann with Australia's best result of 15th.

“It was a big PB and I am really happy I could run that fast in a championships. Lisa Ondieki is a bit of an inspiration. We have the same name so hopefully I will run as fast as her. Well maybe not as fast, but I’ll try,” Weightman said.

Distance team coach Tim O'Shaughnessy was impressed by Weightman's race plan and the way she executed it.

“It was a great effort by Lisa, she ran the race exactly to plan and it worked. She’s getting stronger and this is only her third marathon so I don’t think we’ve really seen what she can do,” he said.