An amazing 35,000 runners participated in the largest race in Holland on Sunday: the 10-mile “Dam tot Dam,” a flat and fast loop course that runs from Amsterdam to Zaandam.
At the front of the race, was a strong contingent of Kenyans. First place in the men’s race went to newcomer Sammy Kitwara who crossed the line in 45:17. Fellow Kenyan, Peninah Arusei, won the women’s race in 51:22.
Kitwara’s incredible winning time of 45:17 translates into 4:31 per mile! It was only 32 seconds slower than Paul Koech’s blistering world-record time of 44:45 which was set in the same race 11 years ago. The Ethiopian, Ayele Abshiro, was second to Kitwara in 45:24, while Bernard Kipyego of Kenya placed third in 46:03. The pre-race favorite, Micah Kogo of Kenya, finished fourth in 46:13.
In the women’s race, Peninah Arusei put on stunning performance, crossing the line in 51:22 (5:08 per mile!). It’s been a wonderful year for Arusei who, besides winning Sunday’s “Dam tot Dam” race, won the Berlin 25K last May. Two Ethiopians helped push the race’s pace: Mestewat Tufa placed second in 51:36 and Ayanu Workitu was good for third in 53:17. Just over a month after her surprise win in the Olympic marathon, Romanian Constantina Tomescu-Dita ran her first race since Beijing and finished a strong fourth in 53:23
Olympic Champion Wanjiru Wins in Lisbon
The men’s Olympic Marathon champion also ran his first race since Beijing and also ran strong: Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya won the Lisbon Half-Marathon in 61:24. Behind Wanjiru were fellow Kenyans Jacob Yator (second place in 62:24) and Thomas Kipkosgei (third place in 62:53). “Winning today wasn’t easy as I’m still recovering from Beijing,” Wanjiru told the Web site www.iaaf.org.
There was also a Kenyan trifecta in the women’s race. Pamela Chepchumba won in 70:26, while Lena Cheruiyot placed ten seconds behind her in 70:36. Gladys Cherono was good for third in 70:42.
Willis and Dobriskey First on Fifth Avenue
A tight finish on Fifth Avenue. © www.photorun.net
He surprised the world by winning a bronze medal in the Olympic 1500-meter final last month and now Nick Willis has demonstrated that he’s one of the world’s fastest middle-distance runners. On Sunday, Willis became only the second New Zealander in history to win the prestigious Fifth Avenue Mile in New York. As always, the race was an exciting one. Willis just managed to come out on top in a neck-and-neck sprint finish against Bernard Lagat (USA). Willis finished in 3:50.5 and the reigning world 1500-meter champion was only a tenth-of-a-second behind. Third place went to Willis’ former University of Michigan teammate, Nate Brannen of Canada, in 3:51.9.
British runner Lisa Dobriskey won the women’s race in 4:18.6. American Shannon Rowbury placed second in 4:19.29 and Rose Kosgei of Kenya took third in 4:23.9.
Incredible Finish at the U.S. 5K Championships in Providence
It came down to the last 800 meters at the U.S. 5K Championships in Providence, Rhode Island on Sunday. Throughout the race, U.S. Olympic steeplechase champion Anthony Famiglietti and U.S. 5,000-meter Olympic team member Matt Tegenkamp had been dueling for the lead. With ½ a mile to go, Famiglietti surged ahead and attacked the final hill on the course, finishing in 13:42. Tegenkamp, who runs for the KIMbia-Team, finished in 13:50. Shalane Flanagan, winner of the bronze medal in the 10,000m in Beijing, won the women’s title in 15:28. Second in the open race was Mary Cullen of Ireland in 15:46.
