BOSTON MARATHON Winners and Heroes by Carol Goodrow Race Photos courtesy of Alison Wade, New York Road Runners Boston Marathon Winner, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Click for B.A.A. Kids' Relays | Khalid Khannouchi and Distance | Champions' Breakfast April 21, 2003 A marathon is an awesome event. Its distance is more than man should run, but its appeal is great and it lures many runners. At the end of the event emerge winners, champions, and heroes. You could be anyone of these, but you should wait till adulthood to attempt a marathon. The Boston Marathon doesn't allow entrants who are under the age of 18 and we agree. Marathons aren't for kids and they aren't for every runner, but every runner may just want to try at least one, and some runners will want to run many. Here are our winners from the year 2003. MEN'S OPEN CATEGORY Robert Kipkoech Cheuiyot, Kenya, who used his race winnings last year to buy 5 sheep and 3 cows, won with a time of 2:10:11. Benjamin Kimutai, Kenya, was second, with a time of 2:10:34. When asked about the fast pace at the beginning of the race, he joked, "We couldn't have been going fast for Eddy (Hellebuyck, masters runner) was with us. FIRST AMERICAN Eddy Hellebuyck American (born in Belgium) awed us all by sticking with the front pack for the beginning of the race. Eddy ran a 2:17:18 marathon. He had hoped to break 2:14, but was happy with making the top ten. Eddy questioned why there weren't more Americans running up front with him. "Where are all of the American marathoners?" Want to eat like a winner? Go to the kids' front page and click on the Eddy Hellebuyck Brown Bag lunch. Take that lunch to school along with a message from Eddy. FIRST WOMAN Svetlana Zakharova from Russia was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 2:25:20.Svetlana had run Boston 5 years ago and had placed 15th. It was a disappointing run for her that year, but this year she made up for it with a win. The first American female finisher was Marla Runyan with a time of 2:30:28. Marla is visually impaired so she had help from a spotter on a bicycle who rode along side her. The spotter helped her find her drinks at the aid station (elite runners label their own bottles which can be picked up at special tables along the route). This was only Marla's second marathon, but she plans on being back at Boston for another someday. As always, after the winners came in, I walked backwards along the course route to see mid-pack runners and also the back of the packers finish. I believe that all the runners need cheering and respect. I was in the back of the pack once, a few years ago and I know what it's like to be out there on the road for a long time. At Kenmore square I stopped to take a couple photos of the Dana Farber fans, who were waiting for their runners to come by. Waiting for their Dana Farber Runner to come by the 25 mile mark This year United States Track & Field (USATF) has taken an interest in charity runners. It's conducted a study and found out that running raised more than $520 million for charity in 2002. On April 19, it named the Boston Marathon the 2002 USATF Charitable Race of the Year. It also named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Teraining as the 2002 Charitable Organization of the Year. You can find out more about the Boston Marathon's charity program by visiting bostonmarathon.com/BostonMarathon/Charity.asp for more information on their charity programs. At KR we believe that it's important for everyone to at one time or another use athletics to help others. Daughter's Hero...Dad! Sitting in front of the wall of names of this year's runners at the Boston Marathon Expo.