News20 Sep 2004


John Cheruiyot Korir sets sights on New Delhi

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John Cheruiyot Korir (© IAAF)

Misterbianco (Catania), ItalyAfter a disappointing 6th place in the Olympic 10,000 Olympic final, Kenya's John Cheruiyot Korir won easily the Sicilian Trofeo Podistico Internazionale Maria SS. degli Ammalati (9,8 km), held last Saturday (18 Sep) in this Sicilian city very close to Catania.

Korir made a decisive move with 2 km to go and his win was the ninth in a row for Kenya in the race.

In Athens Korir suffered some breathing problems, but just two weeks after he ran a good 10,000m race in Memorial Van Damme in Brussels (TDK Golden League meet) finishing in 6th with a time of 27:05.14.

After Olympics he had immediately started working hard in preparation for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (October 3, New Delhi, India) where his goal is a medal. He came fourth last year in Vilamoura, Portugal.

For the 2nd place, Hillary Korir out-sprinted Jonathan Kosgei, and Pius Muli, who is famous because back in the 1999 World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz he beat 2004 IAAF Athlete of the Year Kenenisa Bekele at 3000 metres.

After the four Kenyans, the first Italian over the finish line was Francesco Bennici (5th), who was very unlucky as at about halfway both his shoelaces came undone.

The racing conditions were very difficult for rain which made the road very slippery.
 
Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF

 
Selected Results

Men's race (9.8km)

1. John Cheruiyot Korir  KEN  30:10
2. Hillary Kipkosgei Korir  KEN  30:25
3. Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir  KEN  30:25
4. Pius Mualuko Muli  KEN  30:27
5. Francesco Bennici  ITA  30:58 

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