Photos by Victah Sailer, Brian J Myers and Vinny Dusovic

See the Boston Marathon story by Bob Richards with Brenda Barrera for the Running Network

The 2003 Boston Marathon Challenged An Elite Field
Robert Cheruiyot and Svetlana Zakharova (photo above by Victah Sailer) patiently ran at conservative but steady paces from the start in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to execute their winning game plans during the second half of the 2003 Boston Marathon.

Svetlana Zakharova quotes: My husband (Nikolai) and I decided that acceleration after 10 kilometers would be the strategy for this marathon. (She was 23 seconds behind the lead pack at the 10K). It was difficult to push hard (the race broke open after 30 kilometers when Lyubov Denisova and Maragaret Okayo fell off pace), but here Russian women were stronger and performed well.

I ran with Margaret Okayo in New York City (2001, Okayo won the NYC Marathon in 2:24:21 and Zakharova placed third in 2:25:13). I noticed she was running different this year. I was very confident that I could pull away from anyone today.

Men's Race Started in the Hills
The men's elite field had strong representation from Kenya while none of the top American men chose to compete this year. Toni Reavis's race preview correctly emphasized where to look for a winner among the circle of friends: "Second time marathoners are dangerous; they have some experience, but not the wall-hitting type. They remain open to the possibility of aggression without the hesitance of consequences as yet unfelt."

Robert Cheruiyot (photo above, by Victah Sailer at Boston College; Cheruiyot on right and Kumutai on left) quotes: I had to increase the pace after 25 kilometers, I always accelerate there. At 25 kilometers, I said, OK, I will win this. I was looking for my friend Benjamin Kimutai (2nd place), expecting him to be behind me. I like the way people provide encouragement along the way, they are happy about Africans, and I like that very much.

Marla Runyan Leads a Proud Contigent of Women
For the American women, Marla Runyan (leading a diamond of women in photo above, by Brian J Myers) started courageously with a challenge to lead during the first 15K on pace for a 2:24 finish. On a warm day with a second weather hazard, the wind, Runyan finished the second half on 2:36 pace to place fifth in 2:30:28.

Marla Runyan quotes: I had trained to run 2:24 or 2:25 coming here, and I was right on pace through half way. When Svetlana pulled away, I worked back up to her. A cramp after 16 miles made it tougher, I re-evaluated my goals and ran as strong as I could to finish.

Runyan, who is legally blind, followed a bicyclist who provided her with times at the checkpoints and guided her to her water bottles.

The American women (photo below with top masters runner #F203 Linda) placed fifth (#F8 Marla), eighth (#F11 Milena) and ninth (#F12 Jill) for their best team performance since 1993.

Milena Glusac quote: Everyone ran a great race. I'm proud of the Americans, we all performed our best.

Top American Women Finishers

5th Marla Runyan (F8), 34 of Eugene, OR  Time: 2:30:28
8th Milena Glusac (F11), 27 of Fallbrook, CA  Time: 2:37:32
9th Jill Gaitenby (F203), 36 of Providence, RI  Time: 2:38:19
3rd Masters Linda Somers Smith (F12), 41 of S.L.O., CA Time: 2:49:41

42-Year-Old Eddy Hellebuyck Stays With the Leaders Through the First Half
American masters runner Eddy Hellebuyck ran a spectacular race to finish 10th overall and first among American men in 2:17:18. Last year, Keith Dowling of Reston, Virginia finished 15th with a time of 2:13:28 to lead the Americans.

Eddy Hellebuyck quotes: I felt good through the hills and the crowd got me going. I am so proud of myself, I wanted to finish in the top ten.

Fedor Ryzhov, 6th and winning masters runner, quotes: We Russians look forward to this race and prepare for a long time. The Russian women did very well and they were prepared to run faster.

Firaya Sultanova, 7th and winning masters woman, quote: I did a lot of mileage, this is the payoff today.

Live national television coverage allowed a broader audience to follow the suspense and action Monday on ESPN 2. The temperature at the noon start hovered near 70 degrees with hardly a breeze - a day to be careful according to Bob Richards, Chicago Athlete magazine.

Fila Runner Robert Cheruiyot is Victorious
Studying the course map, the layout is fiendishly clever - the toughest hills on the 42 kilometer course (26.2 miles) rise between kilometers 25 - 35. Without careful consideration, this course could overwhelm an athlete where the mental challenge of a marathon is greatest - after an exhuberant first half but still too far from the finish for a racer to be confident of success.

Robert Cheruiyot (photo above) is the Italian stallion of Kenyans, a bit taller than most runners and based in Italy with world famous coach Dr. Gabriele Rosa with Fila's Discovery program. He took third in the World's Best 10K (28:23) in Puerto Rico and won his first attempt at a marathon (2:08:59) last autumn in Milan, Italy.

Benjamin Kimutai, debut at marathon and 2nd place finisher, quotes: Boston has a lot of history. Everyone says Boston is very hard, so I prepared knowing Boston is tough - uphill, downhill. Heartbreak Hill, that is where many people try to break away.

The opening pace was not fast, it was for everyone. Ed Hellebuyck was there, it couldn't be a fast pace. (Laughter) At 24 miles, I had nothing more to offer. I strove to maintain my position.

Defending Champion Maragaret Okayo Gambles
The women's elite field presented diversity with pre-race favorites from Kenya, Russia and the USA. Defending champion Margaret Okayo (also with Fila) found last year's strategy (go out at 2:21 pace) foiled by the weather, not her fellow competitors. Svetlana Zakharova (winning in photo above) came into the Boston Marathon with the second fastest time (2:21:31, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon 2002) and an abundance of big city marathon experience ( 3 times, London; 2 times, New York City; once, Berlin and World Marathon Championship).

She attracts attention from careful marathon observers but otherwise goes unnoticed amongst the hubbub of Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba, et cetera. However, President George W Bush wears what Svetlana wears - Mizuno running shoes. Her 33-year- old agent, Konstantin Selinevich, obtained his masters degree in sports from St Petersburg University. Coincidentally, St Petersburg is the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Joan Benoit Samuelson quotes at the marathon breakfast: The camaraderie is phenomenal. We become role models, so it's important to be as good and as kind to others as we can be. Looking back, I remember the friendships more than anything. (Samuelson won the first gold medal for the women's Olympic Marathon in 1984 and held the marathon world record.)

The London Marathon on April 13 Provided Motivation to the Women
This is an exciting time for women marathoners, as Barbara Huebner noted in her preview: "For 13 years, Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway owned the women's world record of 2:21:06. Since it was broken in 1998 by Tegla Loroupe's 2:20:47 in Berlin, it has been lowered five more times and last weekend plunged to 2:15:25 courtesy of Paula Radcliffe's tour de force at the London Marathon.

Marla Runyan noted Friday before the race that the 2002 Boston Marathon was one of the most spectacular marathons ever run. (Margaret Okayo made a winning move in the final mile to pull ahead of Catherine Ndereba and set a new course record of 2:20:43) But Runyan emphasized that she viewed the marathon as a matchup of individuals, not a race against the clock.

Wheelers Tough Out a Strong Headwind
Ersnt Van Dyk, men's wheelchair winner, quotes: At 10 kilometers, I was on pace for a course record. Then conditions changed, with a headwind. We saw splits get slower and slower. I will remember this race where I kept going, even in tough conditions. I had to focus and push hard. As an athlete, I reached a new level in my ability to dig deep and finish well.

Cheri Blauwet, 2nd place women's wheelchair, quotes: It was great to compete with a high caliber class of women. This is my fifth marathon and the toughest of all. It took the most out of me physically and emotionally.

2003 Champions

Men's Open:
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (Kenya), 2:10:11


Women's Open:
Svetlana Zakharova (Russia), 2:25:20


Men's Masters:
Fedor Ryzhov (Russia), 2:15:29


Women's Masters:
Firaya Sultanova (Russia), 2:31:30


Men's Wheelchair:
Ernst Van Dyk (South Africa), 1:28:32


Women's Wheelchair:
Christina Ripp (United States), 1:54:47


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Chuck Moeser of Sterling, Virginia (far right) with a few of his friends from the Reston Runners at the finish line the day before the race.