28 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 20, 1999
Kenyan
°..BOSTON (AP) - Kenya's
added yet another victory to
decade of dominance at the B
Marathon, and Ethiopia's Fatuma
"kept her own formidable streak
too.
Joseph Chebet, a runner-up in hi
.vious three marathons, ended his
of second-place finishes by wi
runners are home away from home in Boston again,
men
their
oston
Roba
alive,
s pre-
string
nning
yesterday's race in 2 hours, 9 minutes,
52 seconds.
Chebet became the ninth straight
Kenyan champion, equaling the race
record set by U.S. runners between
1916-25 at a time when few foreigners
entered the race. There was no individ-
ual competition in 1918, only a team
race.
"Everybodyin the world is trying to
catch the Kenyans, but they can't,"
Chebet said.
The smooth-gliding Roba, the 1996
Olympic gold medalist, eased to victory
at 2:23:25, matching the three consecu-
tive titles won by Germany's Uta Pippig
from 1994-96. They are the only two to
win three in a row since women official-
ly became part of the race in 1994.
While Chebet and Roba over-
whelmed their opposition, two crowd
favorites - defending champion Moses
Tanui of Kenya and four-time champion
Bill Rodgers - did not finish.
Tanui, also the champion in the race's
centennial year in 1996, apparently was
bothered by leg cramps and dropped out
near the 23-mile mark. Rodgers, seeking
to break the course record for over-50 by
an American, dropped out shortly before
the 21-mile mark because of dehydra-
tion.
"I can run the race," the 51-year-old
Rodgers said, "but I can't push hard for
records. I have to run more carefully,
then I'll finish."
Another popular New Englander,
Lynn Jennings, was 12th among the
women in her first official marathon at
2:38:37.
Jennings, 38, had run the marathon as
an unofficial competitor in 1978 when
she was a 17-year-old high school snigr
and ran about 2:46, a time that waod
have placed her third.
Sheiks
prepare
for Derby
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)
- Champion horses Aljabr and Wortdly
Manner boarded a flight yesterday for
the United States, where their Arab sheik
owners are eyeing America's greatest
racing title: the Kentucky Derby. -
The chartered flight left Dubai and
was to refuel in Shannon, Ireland before
heading to Kentucky, said Michael
Osborne, chairman of the Emir*
Racing Association.
The Al Maktoums, the rulers of the
Gulf emirate and probably the rih'est
and biggest horse racing owners in the
world, have won many top races..
Their bid for the May I Kentbky
Derby is a shot at racing history: TE
Derby has never been won by an Arab
owner.
"Our hope is to win the Kentucky
Derby and show how the Emirates is
training horses," said Sheik Hamdan
Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy rulerf
Dubai.
'M' men's
gymnasts-
head to
NCAAs
GYMNASTS
Continued from Page 21
Ten Championships, Iowa perormed
one of its best meets of the season and
claimed second place. At NCAA
Regionals in Illinois, the Illini were
inspired by their fans to finish f~rth
and just missed qualifying for he
championships.
"I thought that Iowa would have a
great advantage by competing at
home, but we went in there and
anyways," Michigan coach Kurt
Golder said. "I do think that thetitle
will come down to the three Big Ten
teams and Nebraska though." -.I
The two favorites for the competi-
tion will be Ohio State and Michigan.
The Buckeyes and Wolverines have
recorded the top scores this yearrdet-
ting above a 231. ..t
The top three teams on Thursday
will advance to the team finals !on
Friday night when 1999's chat
will be crowned.
The all-around champion wil be
determined from competition bn
Thursday night. Michigan has some of
the best all-arounders in the country
this year -- maybe too many. '
Four Wolverines have a legitimate
chance to win the all-around title'
Daniel Diaz-Luong, Lalo Haro, Jtlstin
Toman and Scott Vetere. All four w '
be able to compete in the all-aro
competition though.
Michigan has a philosophy that
places program first, followed"*,y
team, all-around and individual. In the
interests of the team, Golder may keep
some gymnasts off their routines, on
Thursday to ensure their ability to
compete on Friday in the team finals.
Because of slight injuries, Diaz-
Luong and Toman might be left off
events during the Thursday coml-
tion. Vetere and Haro could be left f
their weakest events if Golder deens it
best for the team's success.
"They can't all compete in the all-
around. Probably one or two of them
will compete for the (all-around) title,"
Golder said. "They all want to coim-
pete, and they are certainly all capable
of winning. They understand that. We
need to do what is best for the tean.
We have talked about it all year."
In terms of individual titles;e
Wolverines have several chances.
Kenny Keener, the Big Ten champion
on still rings, has recorded some ofthe
best scores on the event this year.
Toman, who's best event is parallel
bars, also claimed the Big Ten title.
/,
WINGS, W EELS,
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, REALLY?
*___ _ _ _.