Lornah Kiplagat won in New York. © www.photorun.net
Lornah Kiplagat won an impressive start-to-finish victory in New York. The Kenyan-born athlete, now representing the Netherlands, won the women-only 10K in Central Park in 32:10. In doing so, the 33-year-old achieved a hat trick, having also won the race in 2003, 2005 and 2006. In the 36 years of the race, only two women have achieved more wins: Grete Waitz (Norway) and Tegla Loroupe (Kenya). The event, established in 1972, was the first international women’s race.
“What has always keeps me coming back to this race is the atmosphere,” said Kiplagat, who is arguably the best road racer in the world, with more than 70 career victories. “I wanted to run a fast time, but I realized at halfway that it wasn’t going to be a good time today.” Kiplagat’s splits of 15:39 and 16:31 show she needed more competition in the second half of the race. She had an 8-second winning margin over the surprisingly strong New Zealander Kim Smith. In a sprint duel for third place, the Briton Mara Yamauchi beat the Australian Benita Johnson, both timed at 32:21. Fifth was Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia), another famous marathon runner.
Last October Kiplagat produced a world record of 63:21 for 20K on the road. In March she celebrated the biggest triumph of her career when she won the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya. Now she is preparing for the 10.000 m at the World Championships in Osaka at the end of August.
Double for KIMbia at Bellin Run
KIMbia athletes celebrated a double success at the Bellin Run in Wisconsin. John Korir (Kenya), one of the strongest road racers in the U.S. in recent times, won the 10K race in 28:09, ahead of training partner Tom Nyariki (28:20). Third place also went to a KIMbia athlete, Kenyan Charles Munyeki, in 29:17.
KIMbia’s Edna Kiplagat’s form is getting better all the time. The Kenyan easily won the Bellin Run in 32:28 ahead of Briton Kathy Butler (33:16), who is also in the KIMbia team. Third was Jenny Crain (U.S.) in 34:18. Kiplagat, who was aiming to improve her 10K best of 32:02, went clear of her rivals from the start. Uta Pippig, who won the Bellin Run in 1995, ran at a training pace to finish in 42:17.
Mottram Wins 2-Mile, Tegenkamp Runs U.S. record
Matt Tegenkamp broke the US record for two miles in Eugene. © www.photorun.net
At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour, Craig Mottram won the 2-mile race in an impressive 8:03.50. “I am hardly where I want to be, but I am happy with the way things are going,” said the Australian, who beat Tariku Bekele, younger brother of Kenenisa. Bekele clocked 8:04.83 for a distance not run all that often. Third was KIMbia’s Matt Tegenkamp, who smashed the U.S. record by over four seconds with 8:07.07. The old mark of 8:11.68 was set by Alan Webb two years ago.
