Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot winning in Lisbon (© Marcelino Almeida)
Kenyans Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Pamela Chepchumba were the victors at the 2006 edition of the RTP Portugal Half Marathon, one of the biggest annual running events in Portugal.
The victory by Cheruiyot, the winner of this year's Boston Marathon, started just after the first kilometre, when he left behind all the other competitors. With a strong pace and alone in the front, he improved the advantage against the others over the next kilometres, reaching the finish line with an advantage of 1:06 in 1:02:51. His compatriot, Peter Kipkasi, won the battle for second over Portugal’s Eduardo Henriquest over the final kilometre, 1:03:57 to 1:04:06. It was his best performance in this event (in 2002 and 2005 he was eighth), ahead of other Kenyan, Richard Limo.
In the top 10 were five more Portuguese competitors, all of them running for the organiser's team, Maratona, several times the European champion in cross country and road racing.
Said Cheruiyot: “This is a strong race, very hard in the first kilometres, but very fast in the last ones, but I felt it was my day and I raced to win.”
Chepchumba the strongest
In the women’s race, the winner also came from Kenya. Racing side-by-side until the final few kilomtres, Pamela Chepchumba defeated Ethiopian Bizunesh Bekele, reaching the line in 1:11:07. Bekele was clocked in 1:11:37, a little shy of her personal best of 1:11:23.
Chepchumba, who was third this year in the Paris Marathon, said, “I felt this was my day, with good weather conditions, and a good group of competitors. I think I ran well and it’s a good victory.”
The third place on the podium went to Irene Jerotich, who left behind the Portuguese runners Leonor Carneiro Mónica Rosa, who each produced personal bests.
Anália Rosa, 10th in this year’s European Championships marathon, was only 8th here, behind Kenyans Caroline Kwambai and Nancy Kiprop, but ahead of countrywomen Ana Dias and Elisabete Lopes.
One curiosity: Susana Feitor, one of the world’s premiere race walkers who took bronze at the 2005 World Championships in the 20Km Race Walk, ran 1:28:50 and finished in 15th place.
Portuguese Prime Minister among the participants
This is one of the most popular events in Portugal and attracted more than 19,000 runners in total, 15,000 of them running a shorter 8Km fun run. Among the several entertainment and political personalities taking part, running side-by-side with other citizens, was Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates. The race begins in the middle of the Vasco da Gama Bridge and ends in the city’s Nations Park.
António Manuel Fernandes for IAAF
TOP RESULTS -
MEN
1. Robert K. Cheuryiot KEN 1:02:51
2. Peter Kipkasi KEN 1:03:57
3. Eduardo Henriques POR 1:04:06
4. Richard Limo KEN 1:05:03
5. Hermano Ferreira POR 1:05:13
6. José Rocha POR 1:05:35
7. José Maduro POR 1:05:51
8. Fernando Silva POR 1:06:52
9. Edwin Kibet KEN 1:07:32
10. Manuel Damião POR 1:08:52
WOMEN
1. Pamela Chepchumba KEN 1:11:07
2. Bizunesh Bekele ETI 1:11:37
3. Irene Jerotich KEN 1:12:49
4. Leonor Carneiro POR 1:13:05
5. Mónica Rosa POR 1:13:09
6. Caroline Kwambai KEN 1:14:32
7. Nancy Kiprop KEN 1:15:16
8. Anália Rosa POR 1:16:09
9. Ana Dias POR 1:17:43
10. Elisabete Lopes POR 1:18:04
