Lornah Kiplagat victorious in Montferland Run (© IAAF.org)
’sHeerenberg, The NetherlandsLornah Kiplagat won the 13th edition of the Wincanton Montferland 15 kilometres Run held yesterday. The World Half Marathon champion clocked a time of 48:49. The Dutchwoman was over a minute faster than her Kenyan nephew Sylvia Kibet who finished second in 49:54. Another Kenyan woman, Masila Ndunge, was third in 50:13.
It was the first outing of Lornah Kiplagat after winning her third consecutive World title in Rio de Janeiro last October.
The first five kilometres were covered within sixteen minutes. In that part of the race Kiplagat had strong opposition from Ethiopian Etalemahu Kidane, who however dropped out after 11 kilometres. The two had passed the 10km marker in 32:34.
In crisp nearly wind still weather conditions Kiplagat then was without opposition on the hilly course near the German border.
The men's race was on open affair until the finish line in the centre of 's Heerenberg. A group of twelve runners passed the first 5000 metres in 14:53. After that point the group broke and six runners passed the 10km point in 29:40. After that point the pace went up and the last five kilometres were covered in 13:47.
In the final phase Getu Feleke (Eth), Abraham Rotich and Sammy Kitwara and Maroccan Najim El Qadi could not follow. The Ethiopians Betona Sahle Warga and Dereje Tesfaye entered shoulder to shoulder the historic centre of ’s-Heerenberg.
Dereje Tesfaye did beat Warga on the finish line 43:27 to 43:28. Third place went to Sammy Kitwara winner of the de Dam tot Damloop in Zaandam last September. Due to visa problems Kenyan Parick Makau, who finished second to Haile Gebrselassie in a 15km in Australia a week ago, could not start.
Leading results
Men (time at 15km & 10km)
1 Dereje Tesfaye Eth 43:27 29.40
2 Betona Sahle Warga Eth 43:28 29.40
3 Sammy Kitwara Ken 43:42 29.41
4 Najim El Qady Mar 43:48 29.41
5 Abraham Rotich Ken 43:50 29.42
6 Getu Feleke Eth 43:58 29.40
7 Patrick Stitzinger Ned 44:21 29.41
8 Hugo van den Broek Ned 44:52 30.04
9 Julius Muriuki Ken 44:53 30.05
10 Marco Gielen Ned 45:04 30.05
11 Sander Schutgens Ned 45:26 30.12
12 Greg van Hest Ned 46:17 30.51
13 Guus Janssen Ned 46:36 31.16
14 Gert Jan Wassink Ned 47:08 31.29
15 Koen Raymaekers Ned 47:12 31.29
Women - (time at 15km & 10km)
1 Lornah Kiplagat Ned 48:49 32.34
2 Sylvia Kibet Ken 49:54 33.25
3 Masila Ndunge Ken 50:13 33.26
4 Gladys Otero Ken 50:44 33.32
5 Paula Todoran Rum 51:52 34.43
6 Nadja Wijenberg Ned 54:44 36.29
7 Nina Mathijssen Ned 54:49 36.41
8 Corine Spaans Ned 55:26 37.15
9 Ingrid Prigge Ned 55:38 37.16
10 Miriam van Reijen Ned 55:54 37.14
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF