Pettinengo, Italy - A return match between the World Half Marathon gold and silver medallists was expected at the 34th Giro Podistico di Pettinengo. However, it was Kenya's Moses Mosop who won the classical road race held Sunday (17 Oct) in the 1700-habitant village near Turin, while Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph took a distant 2nd and Paul Kirui closed in 3rd.

Two strong favourites

In New Delhi two weeks ago Kirui confirmed he was one of the best specialists at half marathon when winning the world title with a time of 1:02:15. Earlier this year he had won the Roma-Ostia under terrible snow conditions with a stunning 1:00:22, the second best time of the year behind the 1:00:11 set by Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in Rotterdam one month ago. Then he won in Berlin - where he had won also last year - clocking 1:00:40.

In India Kirui took the title dropping his rivals with 5km to go. The last one to be dropped was Joseph, who doubled the silver medal he had won in 2003 in Vilamoura. A wonderful result considering he is not yet 19, as he was born in December 1985. In 2004 he also won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, out-sprinted by Uganda's Boniface Kiprop in the 10,000m.

In the middle of last week Kirui - who is coached by Italy's Gabriele Rosa - was reported to have visa problems and the organising committee feared they would not have him in the race. However at last he was regularly at the start line.

Surprising Mosop

With such big names starting as the two favourites, it was a real surprise to see another 1985-born, Moses Mosop, winning the men's race. After a very slow first lap (every lap is about 3,2 km, with last 500 metres slightly uphill), Mosop made an apparently early move during the second lap, putting some seconds between him and the others. Kirui tried to follow his pace, but then slowed down and was caught by Joseph.

In the last lap Mosop kept the pace fast in order to beat the course record (26:24 by Charles Kamathi in 2002), but it was not possible. He missed it by 11 seconds (26:35). Joseph dropped Kirui in the last uphill straight and crossed the finish line 10 seconds after Mosop, while the Kenyan's time was 26:51. Kenya’s stranglehold of the race – after Paul Tergat took the honour four times in the past – was secured.

Mosop is one of the most talented athletes at 10km. He was 7th in the Olympic final in Athens with 27:46.61, after taking 2nd in the Kenyan Trials in June. He also is coached by an Italian, Renato Canova. On the track he has a PB of 27:13.66, set last year in Brussels.

A very good field

Apart from Kirui, in the race there were two among the best performers of the year at half marathon, who curiously had clocked the same time as Kirui (1:00:22): Robert Kipchumba and James Kwambai, who respectively won the Stramilano and the Udine Half Marathon. They both were beaten by John Cheruiyot Korir, last year's winner in Pettinengo, who was 4th, like in New Delhi.

No glory for Adere

The women's race was supposed to be a parade for Berhane Adere, the reigning 10,000m World champion.

However, this time she was well beaten by little-known youngster country mate Etalemahu Kidane (no relation to former Cross country world champion Werknesh), who increased the pace at halfway in an uphill stretch. Adere was able to follow her but lost ground again when in the last 300 metres the diminutive Kidane made her sprint.

Kidane closed with 12:32, far from 12:15 set by Zahra Ouaziz in 1999, which is still the course record. Adere crossed the finish line almost walking, 10 seconds behind.

Kidane is the 3000m World Junior bronze medallist from Santiago de Chile in 2000, when she was just 17. This year she won the African title at 5000m in Brazzaville, Congo, and set a PB on the distance clocking 15:04.34 in Hengelo.
Behind Adere, Catherine Chikwakwa took the last place on the podium. Chikwakwa became famous in Grosseto last July, as she gave her country - Malawi - the first medal in a global competition in every sport, winning a historical silver medal in the 5000m World Junior Championships.

In the process she also clocked her PB 15:36.22. She out-sprinted one of the pre-race favourite, Ethiopia's Kutre Dulecha, 1500m reigning World Indoor champion.

Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF

Selected Results
Men's race (9.6 km)
1. Moses Mosop, 85, KEN, 26:35
2. Fabiano Joseph, 85, TAN, 26:45
3. Paul Kirui, 80, KEN, 26:51
4. John Cheruiyot Korir, 81, KEN, 27:07
5. Robert Kipchumba, 84, KEN, 27:15
6. James Kwambai, 76, KEN, 27:21
7. Benson Barus, 80, KEN, 27:29
8. Paul Langat, 82, KEN, 27:52
9. Assefa Mezgebu, 78, ETH, 28:01
10. Aziz Driouche, 77, MAR, 28:02

Women's race (4 km)
1. Etalemahu Kidane, 83, ETH, 12:32
2. Berhane Adere, 74, ETH, 12:42
3. Catherine Chikwakwa, 85, MWI, 12:55
4. Kutre Dulecha, 78, ETH, 12:57
5. Notz Vera Umberg, 76, SUI, 13:00
6. Valentina Bellotti, 80, ITA, 13:13