2003 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10K
Cleveland, OH, USA -- 28-April

 

(at left) - Before the end of the third mile, Paul Koech (#4) and Gilbert Okari made the 10-K a two-man race; (right) Koech, fifth in last month's World Cross Country Championships 12-K, controlled much of the race.


 

The 24 year-old Okari, second the prior weekend at the Crescent City Classic 10-K, tailed Koech through most of the second half.


 

Okari, about 250m from the finish, before he made his decisive move to win in 28:18, four seconds ahead of Koech. At right, defending champion Gilbert Koech (#1) was sixth in 29:07, Moses Mwangi (#3) was fifth in 29:01, and 19 year-old Patrick Nthiwa (#9) was fourth in 28:58.


 

Jim Jurcevich (left) was seventh in 29:48; 22 year-old Richard Roberts punches his way through the tape to win his first marathon in 2:28:59.


 

Lourdes Cruz of Puerto Rico won the women's marathon in 2:48:46.


 

In the women's 10-K, Russian Lyudmila Biktasheva (left), the 10,000m bronze medallist at last year's European Championships, won handily in 33:01. Anastasia Ndereba (right), Catherine's younger sister, was second in 33:25.




Anastasia Zubova (left) of Russia was third in 33:39, 21 seconds ahead of defending champion Jackline Torori of Kenya.

All images © Bob Ramsak and Track Profile. All rights reserved.