Mosop, Shobukhova triumph in Chicago Marathon

Kenya's Moses Mosop won the Chicago Marathon in a course record and Russian Liliya Shobukhova completed an unprecedented three-peat in impressive style on Sunday. Both champions pulled away to post emphatic victories, Mosop clocking 2hrs 05min 37sec to beat the previous course record of 2:05:41 set in 2009 by the late Sammy Wanjiru. Shobukhova, too, made it look easy as she won in 2:18:20. Only England's Paula Radcliffe has ever run faster. Mosop led a Kenyan sweep of the men's podium. Wesley Korir was second in 2:06:15 and Bernard Kipyego third in 2:06:29. Ethiopia's Bekana Daba (2:07:59) and American Ryan Hall (2:08:04) completed the top five. Mosop had made his marathon debut in April at Boston, where he ran the second-fastest marathon in history but finished behind compatriot Geoffrey Mutai in a race that didn't meet world record specifications. The Kenyan was also second in this year's Paris Half-Marathon and set a world record of 1:26:47.4 in the 30,000 meters on the track in June at Eugene, Oregon. However, he came into the race saying his training had been hindered by a sore Achilles tendon. There was no sign of it as he powered through the final third of the race. "Yesterday I didn’t think I was in good shape," Mosop said. "I'm very happy about the job I did today." Mosop reckoned he was racing at about 85 percent. If he were 100 percent healthy, he said, "maybe I'd run in 2:02". That's never been done before, but Mosop's burgeoning resume indicates he could be the man to eventually do it. Certainly Korir knew he wouldn't have things all his own way when he made his move to break from the leading bunch around the 18 mile mark, briefly taking the lead. "I knew that if I had to make a move, now was the time to make a move," Korir said. "I saw an opportunity, and I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to go.'" Mosop stayed with him, then quickly regained control and surged to the finish. "I knew that I was awakening the lion that was asleep," Korir said. "I knew that, and I was ready. I wasn't surprised when he came back. "At that moment, I was like, 'OK, I'm going to try to stay behind him,' but he kept going." Shobukhova's 2:18:20 made her the second-fastest performer ever behind Radcliffe, who holds the three fastest women's marathon times. That includes her world best of 2:15:25 and a 2:17:18 posted at Chicago in 2002. "I’m unbelievably happy," said Shobukhova, 33. "It’s something special." In addition to seizing a slice of Chicago history, Shobukhova might have secured her 2012 Olympic berth. Russia's federation will select its team based on the two fastest times posted between September 1 and the end of 2011. She had already clinched the World Marathon Majors women's title and a $500,000 bonus going into the race. "I'm overwhelmed right now," said Shobukhova. "You're happy. You're excited. You're shocked." Ethiopia's Ejegayehu Dibaba was second in 2:22:09 and Japan's Kayoko Fukushi third in 2:24:38. Shobukova was delighted with the conditions, which were a bit warmer than usual for October in Chicago with a temperature of 64 F at start time reaching into the upper 70s in the afternoon. "The weather was absolutely gorgeous," Shobukhova said. However, the race for non-elite field -- more than 37,000 runners lined up for the start -- was marred by the death of a 35-year-old man who collapsed on the course. Chicago police spokesman Darryl Baety said he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities said an autopsy was planned for Monday. Four years ago, a Michigan man who had a heart condition died during the race, and organizers had hoped that improvements in emergency strategy, additional medical aid stations and increased water distribution points would avoid any repeat of that tragedy.