Peter Kirui one-upped himself Wednesday in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. After taking runner-up honors in 2010, he brought home first place this year, finishing the 6.2-mile course in 27 minutes, 37 seconds and edging two Kenyan compatriots — Micah Kogo and Mathew Kisorio — by two seconds in the process.
"Today's race was good," he said. "I'm lucky to be the winner for this year's Peachtree Road Race."
Though he said he "normally" runs better in cold weather, the warmer temperatures in Georgia did not slow him enough to prevent a victory.
In similar fashion, no competitor could prevent Tatyana McFadden from winning the prize in the women's wheelchair race for the third consecutive year. McFadden credited her victory to being able to "play to my strengths."
"My strengths are not going downhill, but they are climbing, so as soon as I knew that first climb was coming, I had to hit it pretty hard," said McFadden, who completed the race in 24:34.
And the Paralympian — who will take part in the 100, 400, 800 and 1600 meters as well as the marathon in London — also praised the Peachtree crowd for its support.
"The fans in Atlanta cheering us on just made it so much better, and it made you keep going," she said. "You take their energy in to finish the race."
Another woman who kept up a hot streak was women's open-division champion Mamitu Daska. The Ethiopian had won four consecutive events. She completed the 6.2 miles in 32:21, and the result didn't surprise her.
"I came to win, and if I don't win, it's nothing," she said. "I'm used to winning."
Aaron Gordian tasted success for the second time, and first since 2005, in the men's wheelchair race. The 46-year-old was the runner-up in last year's Peachtree, and gained time when the course grew hilly.
"I knew I needed to push more when it's uphill," he said. "I say [to myself], 'This is the moment.' It's good for me, because I feel very comfortable going uphill."
Jae Yung Hyung took home first place in the men's masters division, winning with a time of 31:21. He narrowly edged Vyacheslav Shabunin, who finished in 31:27. Shabunin, a three-time Olympian from Russia, was the defending masters champion and entered the race as the top-ranked runner in his class.
On the women's side, Sheri Piers of Falmouth, Maine, won the masters division race with a time of 34:38, followed by Dorota Gruta of Poland and Tatyana Mezentseva of Ukraine at 34:55 and 35:02, respectively.
About the Author
