Wanjiru breaks record in Chicago

Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya battled through freezing temperatures to win Sunday’s Chicago Marathon in a course record time of 2:05:41. It was also the fastest marathon ever on American soil.

Wanjiru collected $75,000 for the win, and an extra $100,000 for breaking the previous record of 2:05:42, set by Khalid Khannouchi in 1999.

Wanjiru took a shot at Haile Gebreselassie’s world record of 2:03:59, by splitting the half marathon in 1:02:00, three seconds faster than Gebresellassie’s pace from Berlin. But unlike the weather, the pace was too hot to handle in the frigid conditions along Lake Michigan.

The cool temperatures, which hovered around zero to five degrees Celsius, are a contrast to the previous two years, when heat and humidity caused havoc for runners and organizers.

Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco made a late push to finish second in 2:06:04, with Kenya’s Vincent Kipruto in third in 2:06:08.

The women’s race wasn’t as exciting, and the times weren’t anything special.

Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova finished all alone in 2:25:56, earning the victory. London winner Irina Mikitenko of Germany finished second in 2:26:31 to clinch the 2008-09 World Marathon Majors championship, and defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia was third in 2:26:47.

American Deena Kastor, the 2005 winner, placed sixth in 2:28:50 in her first marathon since breaking her right foot in the Beijing Olympics.

About 35,000 runners took part in the race, and full results are available at chicagomarathon.com