The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Tadesse wins men’s event

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Tadesse wins men’s event

Special Correspondent

ATHLETICS / Abeylegesse, Momanyi triumph in women’s race

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

PROUD MOMENT: Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse outkicked Moses Kipsiro of Uganda to clinch the men’s title in the Sunfeast World 10K run.

BANGALORE: It could not have been any closer.

Both the men’s and women’s Elite race in the Sunfeast World 10K run at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday saw a sprint finish.

If Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse outkicked Moses Kipsiro of Uganda in a close finish to pocket the men’s title and the winner’s purse of $ 20,000 with a time of 00:27:51, the women’s finish produced a dead heat. Both firm favourite Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey and rank outsider Grace Momanyi of Kenya breasted the tape together in an identical time of 00:32.02 and were declared joint champions, after a two-hour long deliberation. The two shared the prize money of $ 32,000.

Tergat disappoints

The Elite runners — 53 in all and 21 amongst them being women — braved the rising temperatures and high humidity to finish with impressive timings — though highly fancied runners in both the sections took a beating.

While Kenya’s multiple World champion Paul Tergat, the oldest amongst Elite men at 39, finished a forgettable 19th, the duo of Salina Kosgei of Kenya and Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

It must be said here that the Indians, though they did not figure in the top 12 in either section, came up with some inspiring finishes.

Kashinath, a Western Railway employee, from Karnataka finished with the best Indian effort of 00:29:54.

Santosh Kumar and Soji Mathew, also from Railways came up with timings of 00:30:04 and 00:30:06, respectively.

Preethi L. Rao, from Bangalore led the women’s field amongst Indian runners to clock 00:36.00 to finish first with Sudha Singh and Kiran Tiwari, both steeplechasers of repute, coming in behind.

Railways takes honours

Railways finished with a creditable combined time of 1:36:10 seconds to clinch the Nations Challenge honours and the prize money of Rs. four lakh.

The results: Elite World 10K: Men: 1. Zersenay Tadesse (Eri) 00:27:51, 2. Moses Kipsiro (Uga) 00:27:54, 3. Tsegaye Kebede (Eth) 00:28:10, 4. Moses Masai (Ken) 00:28:22, 5. Feyisa Lelisa (Eth) 00:28:35, 6. Demesew Tsega (Eth) 00:28:44.

Nations Challenge: 1. Railways (Preethi, Santosh, Soji) 1:36:10; 2. Karnataka (Kashinath, Kiran Tiwari, Manoj Singh) 1:40:18; 3. Kerala (Ranjan Kariappa, Naresh Kumar, Manjusha CA) 1:45:07; 4. All India Police (D. Madhusudan, R.B. Subba, H. Jibolata) 1:47:35.

Women: 1. Elvan Abeylegesse (Tur) & Grace Momanyi (Ken) 00:32:02 (Joint winners), 3. Doris Chenwego (Ken) 00:32:31, 4. Tiki Gelana (Eth) 00:32:46, 5. Salina Kosgei (Ken) 00:33:18, 6. Joan Ayerbei (Ken) 00:33:29.

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