BENGALURU, May 15: Beating very hot and humid conditions, Mosinet Geremev and Peres Jepchirchir powered to impressive victories at the 9th TCS World 10K here today.
Taking control of the 8km-run, Geremew held on to win in 28.36 to become the first athlete to secure back-to-back titles.
Trailed by Kenyan John Langat and Bonsa Dida until the final lap on the track, Geremew pipped them by one second to earn a winner’s cheque of USD 23,000.
“It was different this year because it was very hot,” said Geremew, who like Jepchirchir arrived in Bengaluru after winning the Yangzhou Half Marathon.
“But at 9K I was sure that I would win.”
Despite the heat, he added with a smile, “I think I will come back next year.”
Jepchirchir, the reigning world half marathon champion, broke from the field in the seventh kilometer to win in 32.15, 13 seconds clear of her Kenyan compatriot Helah Kiprop.
“The weather really was hot, but when I saw on my watch how slow the first three kilometers were, I said to myself, ‘let me push’. So I pushed,” said Jepchirchir, who followed up her victory at the World Half Marathon Championships with a win at the Yangzhou Half Marathon just three weeks ago.
“Those recent victories laid the foundation for the confidence she displayed in the race’s second half. After seven kilometers I saw that I’m still strong, so knew that if I continued like this, I will win,” she added.
The races began under difficult conditions with a start- time temperatures of nearly 33 degree Celsius along with 90 per cent humidity.
Expecting the conditions to take their toll, Jepchirchir decided to run from the front early on in an effort to control the race. Her prediction proved correct: after just five kilometers, covered in a modest 16:31, only seven women remained in contention.
A kilometer later that number was reduced to three: Jepchirchir, Rio-bound marathoner Kiprop and Ethiopian Wude Yimer, the race winner in 2010.
Just beyond the 7K marker Jepchirchir made her bold break, building a nine-second lead by 8K and extending it to 13 seconds with one kilometer to go.
She maintained the margin through the finish to collect her fourth victory in as many races this year.
Kiprop finished second in 32:28 minutes with Yimer, a former course record holder and runner-up here last year, third in 32:33.
A different kind of drama played out in the men’s contest. As a steady and cautious pace in the early stages did little to break up the lead pack of 12, Mule Wasihum, a sub-2:06 marathoner, decided to take matters into his own hands.
The 23-year-old Ethiopian made a big move in the 12th minute, opening a gap of some 30 metros on his nearest pursuer and he held on to a six-second lead after eight kilometers. But with the sun beating down, he soon paid for his impatience.
Slowing markedly, he was eventually caught by Geremew when the clock read 25 minutes even, at which point the defending champion took command.
Langat clocked 28:37, with Ethiopia’s Dida third in 28:42.
Amongst the Indian Male elite runners, the race was a very apparent ‘sprinters race’ with no clear leader till beyond the 8KM mark where it looked liked the defending champion Suresh Patel would retain his crown, till Lakshmanan G sprinted in the last one km stretch within the Kanteerava Stadium.
Lakshmanan who clocked a 30:34 was all praise for the new course.
“It was a very tough race because until the last 500 metres, the leader kept shifting between, Suresh, myself and Nitendra. I was only able to take the lead in the last 500 metres which is why the gap between me and Suresh was only 2 seconds.”
Olympic Qualifier Nitendra Singh Rawat, who came in third at 30:53 was honest about his lack of experience in a short distance run, stating, “I planned my run like I would plan a marathon, building pace for the first half of the run, followed by a sprint in the second half. This did not work as planned as I stayed with the pack for the majority race. however, when they made their final sprints, I was unable to keep up with the winner – but this was a great race.”
Swati Gadhave led the race from start to finish, ending her 10KM sprint, at 34:45 more than a minute ahead of second place Sanjeevani Yadav who clocked 36:13. Swati paced with the International Elite Athletes running with their pack through most of the race much to the viewers delight and ended amongst the top ten overall Women Finishers.
“The climate wasn’t an issue, even though I landed only last night from Denmark after international competition,” Swati said.
Coming a distant second to Swathi, was Sanjeevani Jadhav at 36:13 who was delighted with her finish, and honored to be running amongst some of the most respected women in her category. Completing the trio on the podium was Meenu at 37:18 whose youthful exuberance was the clear reason she was amongst the top three. (PTI)
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