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As
the runners exit the stadium, Rie Matsuoka (#473)
of Japan leads the massive chase pack.
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...And
Constantina Dita has already started to build a lead
on the field. |
Heading
up Jasper Avenue (less than 10 minutes into the race),
the runners start to sort themselves out into packs. |
The
race had been billed by some as Lidia Simon (right)
against the Japanese. Here she runs with all five
members of the Japanese team: #481 Yoko Shibui, #483
Reiko Tosa, #472 Kazumi Matsuo, #473 Matsuoka and
#479 Takami Ominami. |
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| The
spectator support along the course was impressive,
with many Edmontonians out to support the hometown
favorite, Sandy Jacobson. |
Elfenesh
Alemu (who dropped back from the lead pack between
30 and 35k and then did not finish) and Simon run
side by side.. |
With
Dita still out front and builiding her lead, the chase
pack remained tightly bunched well past the halfway
point. |
Florence
Barsosio of Kenya runs with Alemu of Ethiopia. |
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| Runners
pass through the halfway point in 1:14:08. Simon leads
with Sonja Krolik (#343) and Nuta Olaru (#647) right
behind. |
Krolik
takes a turn in the lead. |
Dita,
who led by almost two minutes at halfway, heads up
the major hill on the course with about one minute
on the pack. |
At
the top of the hill, the pack had both gained ground
on Dita and dropped a few more bodies. |
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| The
chase pack is down to nine. L-R: Reiko Tosa, Elfenesh
Alemu, Shitaye Gemeche, Svetlana Zakharova, Florence
Barsosio, Sonja Krolik, Lidia Simon, Yoko Shibui and
Lyubov Morgunova. |
Simon
grabs her beverage of choice, which she has made easier
to spot by attaching a flower. |
One
hour and fifty two minutes into the race, the pack
catches Dita (at right) and quickly and unforgivingly
spits her out the back. Despite not being able to
hang with the main pack, Dita hung on well, finishing
10th in a PR 2:30:38. |
And
it's down to four. Just before the 35k mark, Zakharova,
Shibui, Tosa and Simon drop Krolik and Alemu. |
