In what was a well-planned run, Monika Athare finished first, with a personal best time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 15 seconds.
It’s established now that Monika Athare, 20, is one of the most exciting young talents around. If more evidence was needed, she provided it by taking the honours at the Stayfree DNA I CAN Women’s Half Marathon on Sunday.
In what was a well-planned run, she finished first, with a personal best time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 15 seconds. Winner of last year’s Delhi Half Marathon, Lalita Babbar, was the overwhelming favourite here.
But stomach cramps midway through the second lap meant that she had to settle for the runners-up position, clocking 1:15:02. Supriya Patil finished third with a time of 1:15.47.
Notwithstanding Lalita’s injury, young Monika deserves credit. She planned her run to the T, knowing when to accelerate and when to hold back. “I began cautiously, trying not to overexert myself in the first lap.
That set me up well for the rest of the race,” she said.
Midway through the second lap, Monika and Lalita broke away from the pack and got into a duel of their own. “The second lap was crucial. We both accelerated a bit and then we knew the battle was between the two of us,” Lalita said.
Just when it seemed a nail-biting finish was on the cards, Lalita slowed down, with one hand on her stomach. “I’ve had this problem for some time now. I suddenly felt the pain and had to slow down a bit. At that point I realised it was not possible to win the race. But I was determined to finish it anyhow,” said Lalita, who will now participate in the London Marathon next month in a bid to qualify for the Olympics.
Monika sensed something was wrong with her rival. Soon she grabbed the opportunity to extend the gap between the two. By the beginning of the third lap, it was obvious who would triumph. “I was surprised with the result to be honest. I was expecting a second or third place finish,” Monika admitted. “But I am extremely happy to win. It is a great initiative and I am looking forward to winning it again next year.”
For the uninitiated, the half marathon, the first of its kind in the country for women, was run in three laps of approximately seven kilometres each within the Bandra-Kurla Complex.
The pleasant early morning weather came as a huge relief to the runners. The route was uncomplicated and the athletes could record the ‘low times’. How well they planned their run was the key as Monika would admit.
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