News07 Dec 2008


Gebremariam out-sprints Bekele, while Masai continue early season roll in Alcobendas XC

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Gebre Gebremariam takes an impressive victory in Alcobendas (© Enrique Yuste)

Ethiopia’s Gebregziabher Gebremariam captured a thrilling sprint victory in the 27th  ‘Cross Internacional de la Constitución’ held this afternoon in the outskirts of Madrid on a slightly rainy day. In doing so, the 24-year-old former (2004) double Cross Country silver medallist got the better of fellow Ethiopian Tariku Bekele with only one second separating the pair.

The women’s race became a solo exhibit by Kenya’s rising star Linet Masai who, as was the case last week in Llodio, produced a stunning performance to build a nearly 40-second gap over her closest pursuer, her compatriot Eunice Jepkorir, the reigning Olympic 3000m Steeplechase silver medallist.

Men’s race: Ethiopians at the double

Shortly after the 10,100m race started a fascinating showdown between Kenya and Ethiopia got underway. The late addition to the field of Vincent Chepkor, the runner-up in Llodio, had strengthened the Kenyan squad but it was Gebremariam who made the main selection in the opening kilometres. By the 3000m point seven athletes remained in contention with only Spain’s Alberto García embedded into the African party but the 2005 European cross country silver medallist lost ground shortly afterwards.

At halfway Tariku Bekele went to the front closely followed by Gebremariam and the Kenyan trio of Mark Kiptoo, Chepkor and Kiprono Menjo, with Eritrea’s Kidane Tadese for company as well. It was Zersenay Tadese’s younger brother who took charge of the race with the clock reading 20 minutes but his pace only left a fading Menjo behind.

Successive 2500m loops witnessed increasingly fast times of 7:12 and 7:09 and with one kilometre to go Bekele made his move and pushed to the death as he seemed fearful of Gebremariam’s finishing speed. Bekele’s frantic change of gear reduced the leading pack to three athletes, the two Ethiopians plus Kiptoo; Gebremariam was running comfortably at Bekele’s shoulder and with 300m left it became clear that one of the two Ethiopians would be the eventual victor.

The outcome of the race promised to be full of excitement and it let nobody down as the closing 150m witnessed a spectacular neck-to-neck with Gebremariam prevailing over Bekele by one second (29:08-29:09) while Kiptoo had to settle for third two seconds behind the winner.

A more than satisfied Gebremariam declared: “Today’s is a quite important win for me since I suffered an injury last summer and I couldn’t compete at the Olympics. It was really frustrating to watch the Games on TV instead of trying to improve on my fourth place from Athens. Luckily, it seems that the injury has already hailed and look forward to making the Ethiopian team to contest the Cross Country championships in Amman (Jordan) where the flat and dry circuit should suit me much more in comparison with Edinburgh’s”. Gebremariam was 17th in the Scottish capital last March. 

As for Bekele, he declared that he now plans to return home and come back to Europe in early 2009 for a series of cross country and indoor track appearances. Asked on his brother Kenenisa’s injury Tariku confirmed that he will have to wait for two months before resuming slight training. 

Solo run for Masai 

The women’s event featured a more than interesting showdown between two top Kenyans in the guise of the Kenyan pair of Linet Masai and Eunice Jepkorir but the former decided to extend her birthday celebrations - she turned 19 on Friday (5) - and with the clock reading 8:30 minutes the talented World Cross Country bronze medallist had edged into a clear lead. It was a position she did not relinquish as noone of her quality rivals could live with her hot pace.

After Masai broke away from the rest, it was Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane who ran closest to the long-legged Kenyan with Jepkorir a solitary third. But the diminutive Ethiopian was making her first cross country appearance for three years - she has given birth to two children in recent years - and was overtaken by Jepkorir with 2000m remaining.

By then Masai’s advantage had raised to 28 seconds and it became clear that barring disaster the Olympic fourth place finisher in the 10,000m would be an overwhelming winner. Masai startled the crowd gathered in Alcobendas with her majestic style and broadened her lead to a massive 39 seconds at the finish line.

To give an idea of the winner’s performance it’s worth mentioning that ‘defending  champion’  Jepkorir completed a brilliant race as she ran two seconds faster today than last year on the same circuit while Kidane conquered the minor place on the podium some 51 seconds adrift the victor.

First Spanish home was 2005 European U-23 800m bronze medallist Esther Desviat. 

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
  
Leading Results:

Men (10,100m):
 1. Gebre Gebremariam (Eth) 29:08
 2. Tariku Bekele (Eth) 29:09
 3. Mark Kiptoo (Ken) 29:10
 4. Vincent Chepkor (Ken) 29:14
 5. Kidane Tadese (Eri) 29:22
 6. Kiprono Menjo (Ken) 29:46
 7. Alberto García (Esp) 29:50
 8. José Ríos (Esp) 30:19
 9. Abdelhadi El Mouaziz (Mor) 30:22
10. Eliseo Martín (Esp) 30:36

Women (5900m):
 1. Linet Masai (Ken) 18:59
 2. Eunice Jepkorir (Ken) 19:38
 3. Werknesh Kidane (Eth) 19:50
 4.  Esther Desviat (Esp) 20:18
 5.  Azucena Díaz (Esp) 20:23
 6. Soud Kambouchia (Mor) 20:30
 7. Aicha Bani (Mor) 20:38
 8. Jacqueline Martín (Esp) 20:49
 9. Yesenia Centeno (Esp) 21:05
10. Irene Alfonso (Esp) 21:23

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