When Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase crossed the finish line Monday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, she fell to her knees and kissed the ground beneath her before being presented with the gold medal.
She finished with a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 11 seconds. Not only was that a new personal best for Gebreslase, it also set the championship record. The previous record, 2:20:57, was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain in 2005.
Second place went to Judith Jeptum Korir of Kenya, who was just behind Gebreslase with a time of 2:18:20, a personal best for her as well.
Three members of Team USA, led by Sara Hall, competed in the marathon. Hall’s time of 2:22:10 was good for fifth place while Emma Bates came in seventh with a time of 2:23:18. Keira D’Amato, the American record-holder in the women’s marathon, took eighth with a time of 2:23:34.
— Luke Norton; lnorton@oregonian.com
