Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya celebrates winning the women's senior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria (© Getty Images)
Vivian Cheruiyot made her 10,000m debut on the track a notable one at the Trofeo Iberico in Ponteverde, Spain, on Saturday (2).
Running at the front from the second kilometre, the reigning World Cross Country and 5000m champion clocked 31:07.02, the fastest performance of the young season and well inside the 31:45.00 'A' qualifying standard for the IAAF World Championships in Daegu (27 August-4 September).
Illustrating solid form, the 27-year-old Cheruiyot's run came just two weeks after she ran away from compatriot and rival Linet Masai, the reigning World 10,000m champion, to take the women's senior title at the World Cross County Championships in Punta Umbria.
Her time was virtually identical to her best over the distance on the roads, where she clocked 31:07 to win the World's Best 10K in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2010.
Dulce Felix of Portugal was a distant second in 31:33.42, also under the Daegu 'A' qualifier. Early leader
In another largely solo effort, Vincent Rono made it a sweep for Kenya with his 27:52.19 victory in the men's race. Running in his track debut over the distane, Portugal's Rui Silva, the 2004 Olympic 1500m bronze medallist, finished second in 27:53.55. Both were well outside the men's World Championships 'A' standard of 27:40.00.
The race also served as the Spanish championships over the distance, with the titles going to Ricardo Serrano and Isabel Checa. Serrano finished third overall in 28:42.91 while Checa was fifth in the women's contest clocking 32:48.76.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
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