Sports

Aryasova, Moiben Win L.A. Marathon

by Jordan Yerman | March 2, 2008 at 01:50 pm

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atiana Aryasova of Russia, a 5,000-meter specialist who was making her marathon debut after taking time off to have a child, won the women's race and a $100,000 bonus for prevailing in the Banco Popular Challenge.

The elite women were given a head start of 19 minutes, 38 seconds over the men's field, and Aryasova maintained a safe lead for most of the race and crossed the field line in an unofficial time of 2:29.

Laban Moiben of Kenya won the men's race and $20,000 by completing the course in 2:13:51.

The LA Marathon isn't as big in the distance-runninng world as its Boston, London and New York brethren, but still manages an international turnout and some impressive times.

Russia's Tatiana Aryasova made a winning marathon debut Sunday, getting a head start on the male runners in race billed as a battle-of-the sexes and capturing the Los Angeles Marathon.

She finished just ahead of a group of Kenyan men in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 9 seconds.

"It didn't matter to me," she said through a translator. "If I see the men behind me, it's not going to make me run faster."

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lgal3824

at 17:06 on March 2nd, 2008

Dmitry Safronov, another Russian making a marathon debut, set a very strong pace as he distanced himself from the men's pack in the first two miles. By the halfway mark, the group chipped away at the gap. Here, in mile thirteen, his face is showing visible fatigue. By mile eighteen his lead was lost to a Kenyan, Laban Moiben who went in to win the 23rd Los Angeles Marathon.

lgal3824 has contributed a photo to this story.