The women’s division lost two sub-2:30 performers...

The women’s division lost two sub-2:30 performers when Alla Zhilyayeva of Russia and Jacqueline Jerotich of Kenya were scratched from the race.

Zhilyayeva, who has a best of 2:27:38, was scratched because of Visa problems.

Jerotich, a 2:28:32 performer, didn’t run because she has typhoid.

*

Success in the triathlon doesn’t guarantee success in the marathon.

Joanna Zeiger found that out.

Zeiger finished fourth in the triathlon in the Olympic Games in Sydney last September, but was a well-beaten ninth in the women’s division.

Zeiger’s time of 3:02:59 was more than 25 minutes slower than the 2:36:58 clocking of winner Elana Paramonova of Russia.

*

Runners from countries that once were part of the Soviet Union have won the women’s division in six of the last 10 years.

Paramonova’s victory on Sunday followed a win by Jane Salumae of Estonia last year.

They were preceded by Irina Bogacheva of Kyrgyzstan in 1999, Lyubov Klochko of of Ukraine in 1996 and 1993, and Madina Biktagirova of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1992.