Lineth Chepkuri returns from Kenya to continue her winning streak in the USA. On Sunday, she won the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta. © www.photorun.net
Fast times were the order of the day at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday. Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia won the annual 10-kilometer event sponsored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in thrilling fashion with 27:56 minutes. The fastest woman was Lineth Chepkurui, a member of the KIMbia running group, who crossed the line in 30:51.
Temperatures were relatively cool for the 41st edition of the race, which assembled more than 50,000 participants, almost half of which were women. According to the race’s Web site, around six percent of the participants were taking part in the event for the 20th time or more. Over 150,000 spectators—family members, friends, and running fans—lined the demanding course to cheer the runners on.
In an exciting men’s race, victory went to the 25-year-old Gebre Gebremariam who was last year’s World Cross Country champion. The Ethiopian’s speed—he was fourth in the 2004 Olympic 5,000 meters—served him well on Sunday, although the race was hardly a cakewalk for him, with a mere four seconds separating the first six finishers. Second-place finisher Peter Kirui of Kenya was given the same time as Gebre Gebremariam, 27:56. Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia/27:58), Shadrack Kosgei (Kenya/27:59), and Terefe Maregu (Ethiopia) broke 28 minutes, finishing third to fifth respectively. A total of 23 runners broke 29 minutes, making Peachtree an exciting road race.
Once again, Lineth Chepkurui showed her American road-racing prowess, winning the women’s race for the second time in a row in commanding fashion with a finishing time of 30:51. Just 22 years old, she is coached by Uta’s trainer, Dieter Hogen. After the race, he was optimistic about Lineth Chepkurui’s future success, telling Take The Magic Step®, “I’m happy that she was able to continue her winning streak from earlier this year. It is a good time for the racing course. Let’s hope she stays healthy now for all upcoming races.”
Alice Timbilili (31:12) and Edna Kiplagat (31:18) placed second and third respectively. Lineth Chepkurui’s winning time in Atlanta was the third-fastest 10K of the year and was not far off her own world best for the year of 30:45. “I’m so grateful, and I look forward to coming back again,” Lineth Chepkurui told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. The fourth to sixth place finishers on Sunday, Kim Smith (New Zealand/31:23), Dire Tune (Ethiopia/31:25), and Belainesh Gebre (Ethiopia/31:33), also came in well under 32 minutes.
Lineth Chepkurui’s most recent achievement to capture the headlines had been at the Bay to Breakers road race in San Francisco in May where she set a world best 12K mark, winning in fast 38:07 minutes.
