With no blisters to slow him down, James Koskei won the 2007 Dallas White Rock Marathon in 2:15:09. He also won the $25,000 Gender Challenge (the women were given an 18:35 head start). In October James was forced out of the Chicago Marathon with a nagging blister that developed just three weeks before the race. Disappointed with his Chicago DNF, James decided not to waste his fitness; he went back to Kenya and started preparing for Dallas. Although he had hoped to run faster in Texas, the decision to run another marathon so soon paid off.
Strong winds and light rain meant a more conservative approach for the elite athletes. At 24 miles four men ran together, all in contention for the win. It was during this mile that they passed the women’s leader, Emily Samoei of Kenya. So with just two miles to go, the men knew that the race and the $25,000 gender challenge purse were on the line. “I wasn’t thinking about the women’s race,” James said after the race. “My main goal was to win the race and I was confident in my kick today.” Rightfully so. Displaying the same speed he used to win so many shorter road races throughout his career, James out-kicked Edward Kiptum to win by just two seconds. The top five places were separated by only 45 seconds. “I was very happy to win today,” James said with a smile. “This is my first marathon win.”
Dallas Top Five Men
1. James Koskei, Kenya, 2:15:09
2. Edward Kiptum, Kenya, 2:15:11
3. Moses Kororia, Kenya, 2:15:33
4. Stephen Biwott, Kenya, 2:15:33
5. Mathew Koskei, Kenya, 2:15:54
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