San Juan, Puerto Rico – Holland’s World Road Running champion Lornah Kiplagat claimed her fourth consecutive title, Meseret Defar made a successful 10km 'debut', and Gilbert Okari led a Kenyan sweep at the 10th edition of the World's Best 10k along the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge in San Juan on Sunday (25). The race drew a record 14,372 participants.

The Kenyan-born Dutchwoman and Defar ran stride by stride in the first three kilometres, but the defending champion took control and was never challenged after the fifth mile (24:45) and crossed the finish line in 31:05.

Defar was happy with her 32:08-minute effort for second, ahead of Morocco's Zhor El Kamch (32:20).

Treated like royalty

“It was a competitive race and I am happy I was able to win again and also with the way I have been treated here in Puerto Rico. I have been treated like a queen and I did not want to disappoint them” said Kiplagat, who finished 20th overall.

Despite taking her 5th win in total in San Juan, the 32-year old failed to break the course record (30:21), set by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2003. The time still stands as a World record.

“I was ready to break the time, but the wind did not allow me to. (Defar) was running fast, but due to the wind, she could not stay with me during the first half”, added Kiplagat who has a 10km personal best of 32:32 (San Juan, 2003).

Defar, the 2004 Olympic 5000m champion, was making her serious international debut over the longer distance, three weeks after breaking the World indoor 3000m record (8:23.72).

MEN's race

In the men´s race, Gilbert Okari stepped up from his runner-up performance last year to win the title in 28:08 minutes, ahead of his countrymen Kimutai Cosmos Koech (28:09) and 2003 World Half Marathon champion Martin Lel (28:13).

Okari and Koech made their move with one kilometre to go and Okari was only able to move slightly ahead 50 metres from the finish. Defending champion Wilson Kebenei Kiprotich also of Kenya faded to seventh (29:01).

Okari failed to smash the course record of 27:44, set by Kiprotich in 2006. “The wind was a major factor. The weather was excellent, but the wind was very strong”, he explained.

Both winners pocketed U$ 25.000 each for their efforts.

Africans took the first 13 places in the men’s race and the top seven in the women’s division.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

Leading results:

Men:
1. Gilbert  Okari  KEN 28:08  
2. Cosmos Koech Kimutai  KEN 28:09  
3. Martin Lel KEN 28:13  
4. Peter Kamais KEN 28:37  
5. John Yuda TAN 28:38  
6. Samuel Kosgei KEN 28:57  
7. Wilson Kebenei Kiprotich KEN 29:01  
8. Boniface Kiprop UGA 29:02  
9. Duncan Kibet KEN 29:15  
10. Boaz Cheboiywo KEN 29:20   
 
Women:
1. Lornah Kiplagat  NED 31:05  
2. Meseret Defar ETH 32:08  
3. Zhor El Kamch MAR 32:20  
4. Hilda Kibet KEN 32:39  
5. Dire Tune ETH 32:42  
6. Helena Kirop  KEN 32:43  
7. Susan Chepkemei  KEN 32:47  
8. Tatyana Petrova RUS 32:50  
9. Amane Gobena ETH 33:17  
10. Edna Kiplagat  KEN 33:20