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PARIS. APRIL 6. Kenyan Mike Rotich held off France's Benoit Zwierzchlewski to set a new Paris Marathon record on Sunday, while Kenya's Beatrice Omwanza won a closely-contested women's race. Rotich crossed the line in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 33 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:08:10, set by countryman Julius Ruto in 1999. Rotich finished four seconds ahead of Zwierzchlewski — who set a new French record time of 2:06:36. Kenya's Wilson Onsare crossed in third place in 2:06:47. Taking advantage of the chilly conditions, Zwierzchlewski smashed the old French record of 2:07:02, set by Driss El Himer in October 2001 in the Amsterdam marathon. ``With four or five kilometers left, I told myself to just go for it,'' Zwierzchlewski told France 3 television. ``I feel like I'm on a cloud right now, I have so much energy left.'' El Himer finished the race in fourth place and also beat his personal best Paris Marathon time, crossing in 2:06:48. ``I saw Driss ahead of me,'' Zwierzchlewski added. ``I thought if I could overtake him then I had a great chance to beat his record.'' Miami Marathon winner David Ruto of Kenya finished in fifth place. Seven Kenyan runners placed in the top 10. Omwanza won the women's race in a time of 2:27:44, finishing ahead of Italy's Rosaria Console and Tanzania's Banuela Mrashani. Console had led the race going into the final stretch, but fizzled and was overtaken by Omwanza roughly 300 meters (yards) from the finish line. Console clocked a time of 2:27:48, while Mrashani finished in 2:29:13. The world record for a marathon is 2:05:42 and is held by Khalid Khannouchi of the United States. The women's world record of 2:18:47 belongs to Catherine Ndereba of Kenya. The results: Men: 1. Mike Rotich (Ken) 2 hours, 6 minutes, 33 seconds; 2. Benoit Zwierzchlewski (Fra) 2:06.36; 3. Wilson Onsare (Ken) 2:06.47. Women: 1. Beatrice Omwanza (Ken) 2:27.44; 2. Rosaria Console (Ita) 2:27.48; 3. Banuela Mrashani (Tanz) 2:29.13. — AP
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