Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia, just 20 years old, has sprung a surprise win at the New York City Half Marathon. He beat the favorite Patrick Makau of Kenya in the sprint to the line in 60:58. In the women’s race Kenya’s world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba won for the second time since 2006 in 70:19. Despite warm, humid weather in New York, 10,564 runners took part.
Tola’s victory was the biggest of his career. “That was a great race with a strong field and it shows me that I have a good future,” said the Ethiopian, who was seventh in the 2007 World Cross Country Championships. Tola tried to break away relatively early in the race, but couldn’t shake Makau, the third-fastest half marathoner in history. Late in the race Makau seemed to be the apparent winner because he’s known for his finishing kick. But when it came to a sprint finish, Tola proved quicker and won by 1 second. Third was the American Dathan Ritzenhein in 61:38. “That was a great test for me before the Olympic marathon in Beijing,” he said.
The New York race also turned out to be an ideal Olympic dress rehearsal for Ndereba. The Kenyan is clearly in form at just the right time before the marathon in Beijing. The Olympic runner-up in 2004 went clear of Madai Perez in the closing stages of the race and won by 7 seconds. The Mexican was second in 70:26. Third place went to Yuri Kano (Japan) in 70:31.
41-Year-Old Masai Wins Bix
Kenya’s Edith Masai won the overall women’s title at the Bix 7-Miler in Davenport, Iowa. The three-time world cross country champion became the first masters runner in Bix history to win the overall race by besting countrywoman Angelina Mutuku by 1 second, 37:20 to 37:21.
The men’s race wasn’t as close, but was perhaps even more dramatic. Ethiopian Maregu Zewdie looked to have the race won when he sprinted clear of Kenya’s Edward Muge. Unfortunately, though, he misjudged the finish line, and threw his hands up in celebration about 100 meters too early. Muge surged past the spent, confused Zewdie to take the win in 32:16. Zewdie recovered enough to hold on to second place, 9 seconds back.
Course Record at the Wales 10K
Despite temperatures of around 90 degrees, there were two course records at the Bupa Great Wales Run on Sunday. The Kenyan Rita Jeptoo and Eshetu Wondimu of Ethiopia won the 10K in the capital city of Cardiff in 31:36 and 27:45, respectively.
After going through the first half in 14:06, Wondimu, 10,000m bronze medalist at this year’s African Championships, increased the pace and split the leading group. The Ethiopian was clearly faster over the second half, improving the course record of the Kenyan Francis Kibiwott by 51 seconds. Twelve seconds behind was Ahmed Hassan Abdullah (Qatar). Third was Titus Mbishei (Kenya) in 28:19.
The margin of victory for the former Boston Marathon champion was considerably greater in the women’s race. After just three kilometers Jeptoo had broken clear of her rivals and went on to improve the course record of Berhane Adere (Ethiopia) by 46 seconds. Amy Rudolph (USA) was second in 32:21, while third place went to Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) with the same time.
Defar Narrowly Misses Dibaba’s World Record
Meseret Defar has come into form at just the right time before the Olympic Games. The Ethiopian 5,000m runner won at the distance in Stockholm in 14:12.43, failing to break the world record of her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba by a little more than a second. If Dibaba decides to double in Beijing and runs the 5,000m as well as the 10,000m, the stage is set for a great duel between her and Defar.
In Oslo at the beginning of June, Dibaba improved Defar’s 5,000m world record (14:16.33, set the year before in Oslo) to 14:11.15. In Stockholm, Defar then proceeded to run the second-fastest performance of all time. She was on her own even from the 2,000m mark. When she saw on crossing the finish line that she’d just missed the record, Defar burst into tears.
Haile Gebrselassie to Return to Berlin Marathon
Haile Gebrselassie will once again be on the start line for the real,- Berlin Marathon on September 28. The outstanding runner from Ethiopia set the current world record of 2:04:26 in the 2007 race. Gebrselassie also won the 2006 race in Berlin in 2:05:56. His objective is to become the first to run under 2:04. “We are delighted that we’ve been able to have Haile Gebrselassie in our race for the third time in succession. It’s proof of how highly he values the real,- Berlin Marathon,” said race director Mark Milde.
Gebrselassie’s participation in the Olympic 10,000m is still uncertain. If he does run, he is not likely to have much of a chance against his compatriot Kenenisa Bekele. Four years ago the double Olympic champion for the longest track race came fifth in Athens. Afterwards he turned to the marathon with increasing success. This year he has already won the Dubai Marathon in 2:04:53—the second-fastest performance of all time.
Gebrselassie surprisingly decided against running the marathon in Beijing because of the city’s air pollution. He has put back his dream of winning the Olympic marathon until London in 2012. In view of the growing strength of his Kenyan rivals that is certainly going to be a tall order for the multi-world record holder. So far in his career Gebrselassie has set 18 official as well as seven unofficial world bests.
