Meseret Defar wins in Berlin, kicking Tirunesh Dibaba out of the grand jackpot. © Photo Run
At the last IAAF Golden League meet, in Berlin on Sunday, 20-year-old Ethiopian runner Tirunesh Dibaba could have become the youngest athlete in the series’ history to win the grand jackpot. After winning confidently in Oslo, Paris, Rome, Zurich and Brussels, however, she saw her chance disappear in the final meters of the ISTAF’s 5,000-meter race at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Normally unbeatable in the final sprint, she couldn’t get past her countrywoman Meseret Defar, who ran 15:02.51 minutes to Dibaba’s 15:02.87. Another Ethiopian, Meselech Melkamu, was third in 15:05.82.
Dibaba would have won $125,000 if she had won in Berlin. Thanks to the new jackpot rule, she at least won a share of the Golden League’s little jackpot, and was able to take home a high six-figure amount of money for her five victories. A male 5,000m runner also managed a fifth victory at the ISTAF and qualified for a share of the little jackpot. For Kenenisa Bekele, however, his situation was the reverse of Dibaba’s: he lost at the first Golden League meet, in Oslo, and then won the rest of the meets in the series. In Berlin, the Ethiopian won comfortably; with his time of 12:57.74, he was the only one under 13:00 minutes. As in the women’s race, Ethiopians also took the next two spots—Bekele’s brother Tariku was second in 13:04.83, followed by Abreham Cherkos Feleke in 13:05.40.
Rock ‘n’ Roll in Virginia
Kenyan runners dominated at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, held in warm and humid conditions in Virginia Beach, Virginia. James Kwambai was the first of the 16,000+ finishers, 63:30 minutes, followed by Evans Cheruiyot (63:49) and Yusuf Songoka (63:49). KIMbia’s Edna Kiplagat won the women’s race in 71:08, 30 seconds of fellow Kenyan Alice Chelangat. Nina Rillstone (New Zealand/71:41) came third.
Women Run the U.K
A 5 kilometer women’s race with 20,000 runners took place in London, while large women’s races were also held in Birmingham and Liverpool. In London’s Hyde Park, Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) succeeded in a tight race in 15:24 over the Brit Jo Pavey (15:26). Reigning Boston Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo was one second back, while Benita Johnson (Australia/15:29) came fourth. The starting signal in London was given by marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, who passed on participating owing to her pregnancy. In Liverpool, former marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) won the 5K in 16:32, followed by Sonia O’Sullivan (Ireland) six seconds later.
Meanwhile, Sonja Oberem will start a comeback. She had originally ended her career after finishing third in 2:26:53 hours at the 2004 Berlin Marathon. After giving birth, the 33-year-old decided to return to competition, and will run the Berlin Marathon later this month. “When I resumed training in February, it had already been a dream to be ready for the Berlin Marathon,” Oberem said. “Now I am happy that it worked. It would be great to break 2:30.” She has a personal best of 2:26:13, and placed eighth in the 1996 Olympic Marathon and fifth at the 2001 World Championships.
