Gebremariam

PHILADELPHIA — Gebre Gebremariam sat in the lobby of a Philadelphia hotel just hours after his second-place finish in the city's half-marathon last month.

This Marriage Goes the Distance Sophia Hollander 2010

But Ms. Wittenberg isn't counting out Mr. Gebremariam, who started 2010 with four straight wins before finishing second in Philadelphia, or Ms. Kidane, who has finally achieved peak conditioning since returning from pregnancy and still holds the women's record for most medals at the World Cross Country Championships.

This Marriage Goes the Distance Sophia Hollander 2010

"Just stay with him," Farah said he told himself as he closed in on Gebremariam.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

Associated Press Gebre Gebremariam (7), below, in a 10K in Maine last month "I don't know about running at that time," said the slight Ms. Kidane, as her husband translated.

This Marriage Goes the Distance Sophia Hollander 2010

Gebremariam, the New York Marathon's defending champion, trailed him by two seconds.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

Farah of Great Britain sprinted away from Gebremariam and won his first half-marathon in 1 hour, 23 seconds.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

But now Mo Farah, Gebre Gebremariam, and Galen Rupp were running close enough to worry about tripping over each other.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

Then Gebremariam found an extra gear and, for a long moment, looked as if he had done just enough with the finish line in view.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

Rupp was swallowed up by three others, including Farah and Gebremariam, setting the stage for the riveting conclusion.

Newcomers Prevail in Half-Marathon Joshua Robinson 2011

The most recent men's winners—2010 champ Gebre Gebremariam and 2009 victor Meb Keflezighi— will also compete.

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