Rising star strides to the fore in Beijing

Updated: 2011-10-17 07:58

By Tang Zhe (China Daily)

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BEIJING -The 2011 Beijing Marathon saw the emergence of a new generation and the comeback of a veteran on Sunday.

Chinese runner Wei Xiaojie finished the race in two hours, 28 minutes and five seconds to win the host country's 20th straight title in the women's event, ahead of Tesemma Yeshi Esayias from Ethiopia and Kenyan veteran Catherine Ndereba.

The 22-year-old, who was exhausted after crossing the finish line, attributed her victory to a strong mindset.

"I was running after my teammate and everything went quite smoothly, but I lost my strength gradually in the last part, and finished the race with just my will power," Wei said.

Rising star strides to the fore in Beijing

"Also, I think the key to my success was my peaceful mindset," she said. "My coach told me to forget the rankings instead, conquering myself was the most important thing."

Though the gold was Wei's first medal in an international marathon, she said she was not satisfied with the result.

"I expected to reach the Olympic standard by running within two hours and 27 minutes," said Wei, who hopes to qualify for the London Olympic Games by performing well at the 2012 Chongqing Marathon, a selection event for the Olympics.

Though only finishing third, Ndereba, a silver medalist at the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games, said she was grateful to reach the finish line in Beijing after recovering from a muscle tear.

"First of all, thanks for giving me the chance to run in Beijing," said the 39-year-old, who broke the women's marathon world record in 2001, running 2:18:47 in Chicago.

"I am very happy with the result, because I was injured the whole of last year, and I hadn't completed a marathon since 2009," she said. "I was just hoping to have a good race. I can say I'm really happy with my effort."

Returning to Beijing, where she reaped her second Olympic silver, Ndereba said running around the course reminded her of her glory days, and now she is working hard for a chance to make the London Olympics.

"I'm hoping to keep myself in good health and I hope my federation will consider me to run for my country."

On the men's side, three Kenyan runners bagged the medals with Kiprop Francis Kipkorir finishing first in two hours and nine minutes. Mugo Samuel Muturi, the winner of the 2009 Beijing Marathon, and Barus Benson Kipchumba, winner of the 2011 Prague Marathon, took second and third respectively.

China Daily