There Is No Happy Ending

It should have been a feel-good story, about the immigrant who sought a better life in America and washed dishes and bused tables to make the money to make his dreams come true.

Instead, marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi’s first race in a U.S. singlet ended Friday well before the finish line of the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships, with the 29-year-old Morocco native nursing blistered feet on a stone bench as he watched the race head toward an exciting conclusion.

Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia, the Sydney Olympic gold medalist, won his first world title after he caught Simon Biwott of Kenya in the final 200 meters and crossed the finish line at Commonwealth Stadium in 2 hours 12 minutes 42 seconds.

In the closest finish in the eight times the event has been contested, Biwott--winner of the Berlin and Rome marathons last year and Paris this year--finished one second behind. Stefano Baldini of Italy, a former world half-marathon champion, was third in 2:13:18.

Khannouchi, who dropped out of his previous race last month because of back spasms, gave up Friday about 16 miles into the race. The weather was warm--about 82 degrees at the start--and he soon ran into difficulties.

“It was so hot today, that after 20 kilometers [12.4 miles] I couldn’t breathe properly, and I was uncomfortable running with the group,” he said. “And there was a lot of pushing. That’s not what I expected.

“I came here hoping I could do better. I knew I was in shape to run 2:07 or better. It just wasn’t my day today, and I think the slow pace was a big factor.”

The half-marathon time was 1 hour 6 minutes, recorded by Antonio Pena of Spain. Khannouchi said he prefers to hit the halfway point at about 1:03, but he was held back by the heat and blisters that sprouted about six miles into the race and raised blood in his left shoe.

“My legs just got too heavy because of the slow pace,” he said. “Because of that, I got the blisters on my toes. I was patient and tried to hold on, but it became time where I knew I wasn’t going to make it.”

Abera said through a translator he never doubted he would win, even though Biwott was a step or two ahead of him as they entered the stadium.

“When I reached the stadium, I was definite that I was going to win,” he said.

Biwott was disappointed but philosophical. “I was going for the gold medal, but I was also ready to accept a silver medal,” he said. “He was too strong.”

With Khannouchi out of contention, the top U.S. finisher was Josh Cox of El Cajon, who was 35th in 2:26:52. The remaining U.S. entrants, Eddy Hellebuyck and Michael Dudley, were 38th and 46th, respectively.

Several other notable runners failed to finish. Among them were 1996 Olympic gold medalist Josiah Thugwane of South Africa and 2001 Boston Marathon winner Bong-ju Lee of South Korea. Ronnie Holassie of Trinidad and Tobago, the leader after 20 kilometers, also did not finish.

U.S. sprinter Tim Montgomery predicted he will beat world and Olympic champion Maurice Greene in the 100 with a world-record time. Montgomery was clocked in 9.84 seconds last month in Oslo, barely off Greene’s record of 9.79. The 100 final will be Sunday. “My practices have been 9.75,” Montgomery said. “My coach [Trevor Graham] told me I can run 9.68.”

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Today’s Schedule

Schedule for the second day of the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Edmonton, Canada:

* Finals

Men’s shotput, 3 p.m., men’s 20-kilometer walk 4 p.m.

* Other highlights

First and second rounds of men’s 100 meters, first round of men’s 400, first round of men’s 800, first round of women’s 10,000, first round of women’s 1,500.