St. Francis grad 22nd at Olympics

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St. Francis graduate Brian Sell (left) leads a pack of runners past a portrait of the late Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong near the start of the Olympic marathon in Beijing today. AP Photo/Greg Baker

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August 23, 2008

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Sat Aug 23, 2008, 11:57 PM EDT

Former St. Francis University All-American Brian Sell placed 22nd in the men’s marathon during the Beijing Olympics today.

Sell, a Northern Bedford County High School graduate, finished in a time of 2:16.07 in his first Olympics appearance.

Kenya’s Samuel Wansiru set an Olympics record by finishing in a time of 2:06.32 to claim his country’s first gold medal in the men’s marathon event.

Although Kenyans have been among the world leaders in this event for several decades, Wansiru is the first from his country to win Olympic gold.

Kenya’s previous best was a silver medal, by Eric Wainaina, in 2000.

Wansiru, who moved to Japan in 2002 to attend high school and still lives there, led an African sweep of the first five places and seven of the first eight.

Joining Sell on the U.S. team were Dathan Ritzenhein, who placed ninth at 2:11.59, and Ryan Hall, who finished 10th at 2:12.33.

Sell, 30, qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games by finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials men’s marathon in New York City in November.

At St. Francis, Sell earned All-American honors and was a national qualifier in the 10k event.

He won Northeast Conference titles in the steeplechase, 10,000-meter run and 5,000-meter run.

Morocco’s Jaouad Gharib, the world champion in 2003 and 2005, finished half a lap back of Wansiru in 2:07.16.

Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia passed countryman Deriba Merga with about 250 meters left to claim the bronze medal in 2:10.00.

Merga held off a charging Martin Lel of Kenya by three seconds, placing fourth in 2:10.21.

Viktor Rothlin of Switzerland placed sixth.

A pack of eight, including all three Kenyans, passed 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in 29:25.

Past Tianamen Square and The Forbidden City, one by one, the pack dwindled.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.). contributed to this story.

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