NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

November 4, 2001

Susan Chepkemel

Svetlana Zakharova

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: Well, it's not a big problem. It's only just a pressure from the race, you know, when you run very hard in the end, so from the pressure, so, you get it.

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: But I feel okay. Just a lot of pressure.

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: Well, in the beginning the rest was wonderful and it was very, very tough anyway because the fast leader, when she break off from the group, then I could not hang with her. I could hang with the second women's and then when she come -- when we break and then we were 4 women's after that, she came, when I was running with Joyce Chepchumba, she was passing and I look, she's going and then I have to hang with her, but she was moving and moving, but I had also to keep on with her. It was good.

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: Well, I was feeling strong because and also a bit tired, but when I saw her passing me, I tried to hang with her and I saw she could not move faster so after -- she was running faster and then I closed the gap and then, in the end, I could sprint.

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: Well, after 15 miles so she was -- she opened the gap after 21 kilometers. After that she opened the gap, I could not follow her best, it was too strong for me, so what it was in my mind, I could run for my own best, but by good luck I had four ladies that I could stay with them.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA: Yeah, of course, they all know each other for a long time and I trained for this race with Ludmila Petrova in south of Russia and I have a good relationship and I like to compete with her. It is great that four Russians were in the top 10.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA: Sometimes when we have to go for the long run we go together and because it is boring when you are running by yourself. Then some recovery, you know, just a short running in the evening, so sometimes we do it together too.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA: I wanted to, of course, thank Susan for a great race and I feel sorry that I don't have such fast legs like Susan had. I decided to pass Susan and tried to go as fast as she can, but then she realized that Susan, she doesn't want to give up and she has so much power in her legs and I just couldn't stay at that pace until to the finish line. So it was a really a fair battle.

SUSAN CHEPKEMEL: It was a wonderful thing today the breathing strip on my nose had the flag of America, so it was wonderful for me, I feel that September 11 -- so when I was running I was feeling with a lot of confidence and when I finish I really thank God and I wanted to -- when I finish I wanted to say something to the people of America, but because now I have chance I would like to thank the people of America and I say God bless them and it was a very nice race today, well organized and I would like to thank the organizers and sponsors for this race of New York. It's so wonderful. Thank you.

SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA: When those events happened on September 11 I was kind of afraid that marathon will be cancelled. (Interpreter speaking) I called her every second day to make sure that she will understand that the marathon will go on. I was trying to keep her informed that nothing is going to happen and the race will go on. I was excited to come here. During the race I saw a lot of people, more than last year, I ran this race last year and was really pushing her forward and I wanted to show my appreciation for all the people of the United States of America and I was trying to give my best performance here to be able to show that I have spirit and I wanted to stay together with Americans.