1st Time Marathon Runner Markos Geneti From Ethiopa Battles Rain, Makes History at 2011 LA Marathon

Fellow Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba Takes Top Spot For Women

Rookie marathoner Markos Geneti took advantage of cold and wet conditions to win the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon, shattering the course record by crossing the finish line at 2 hours, 6 minutes and 35 seconds.

Born in Ethiopa, this was the 26-year-old's first competitive run. Although Geneti wasn't used to racing in the rain and had a pain in his stomach, it didn't stop him from recording the best time in event history.

Confounding marathon commentators with a blistering pace throughout the entire 26.2 mile race, the so-called media experts opined that the course from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier could not generate such a fast time.

Geneti nevertheless finished 2:51 ahead of second place Nicolas Kamakya of Kenya -- the second largest margin of victory in marathon history -- and 6:37 ahead of third place Laban Moiben of Kenya. When the sinewy black man plowed through shin-deep puddles to break the race record by almost two minutes, he actually surprised himself.

"I was hoping to run 2:07:30," he said, through an interpreter. "But I ran a minute faster."

Geneti not only triumphed, he crossed the finish line with the second-fastest time in the world this year and the fastest time in California history. "My muscles are a little sore," he said.

It's only a matter of time before the endorsements start coming and he becomes a household name.

The women's division was captured by Buzunesh Deba, 23, who landed in the top spot with a time of 2:26:35. Also hailing from Ethiopia, Deba has been making quite a name for herself as she continues to rack up impressive victories. This marks her seventh marathon win in the nine races she has entered.

The male and female winners each won $25,000 and a 2011 Honda Insight. Geneti also won $100,000 for being the first runner -- male or female -- to cross the finish line. The women were given a head start of 17:03 to even the field.

Smiling broadly, Geneti said he plans to invest his earnings in a school in Addis Adaba. "If I train better," he said. "I can improve."