Kitwara and Arusei win Ten Miles in Zaandam

Zaandam, The NetherlandsThe 24th edition of the ‘Dam tot Dam’ run over Ten Miles between Amsterdam and Zaandam witnessed a double Kenyan victory on what was a sunny Sunday (21).

Sammy Kiwara won the men's race in 45:17 and his compatriot Peninah Arusei was the fastest women in 51:22.

A special guest in the women's race was Olympic Marathon champion Constantina Dita who finally finished fourth in 53:23. The Romanian, said afterwards: “I am still tired of the Beijing marathon. It was difficult', but I am happy with my time.''

Men vs women

The race is also set up each year as a confrontation between the best men and women, as the latter start 5:46 minutes earlier than the men. Why 5:46 minutes? Well, that’s the difference between the course records:In 1997  the men's winner Paul Koech ran 44:45, Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) was in 1987 the fastest women in 50:31.
 
Until around the 10km point it looked like the women would beat the men, who had started rather slow with a leading group of around fifteen (first 5 kms in 14:28), while Arusei and the number two women, Mestewat Tufa of Ethiopia were way ahead.  The women covered the first 5k in 15:33. After 10 kilometres the difference between the leaders was 3:06 - 31:40 and 28:34.

“Till the 10kms marker the pace was too slow,'', said Kiwara afterwards. “The moment I passed several women I did not know I was leading.''

The pace of the leading women slowed down after 10km and Arusei lost fourteen seconds on Kitwara. The gap was closed further between 10 and 15 kilometres. At the last marker the first women passed in 48:05 while the first man clocked 42:21, and in the final kilometre Kiwara overtook Arusei.

Wim van Hemert for the IAAF

RESULTS

24th Dam tot Dam loop from Amsterdam to Zaandam 21 September

Ten Miles
 
Men
1. Sammy Kitwara          Ken        45:17
2. Ayele Abishiro            Eth         45:24
3, Bernard Kipyego        Ken        46:03
4. Micah Kogo               Ken         46:12
5. Wilson Kipsang         Ken         46:15
6. Wesley Langat          Ken         46:29
7. John Kibowen            Ken        46:39
8. Nathan Naiabei          Ken        46:54
 
Women
1. Peninah Arusei         Ken         51:22
2. Mestewat Tufa         Eth          51:36
3. Ayanu Workitu         Eth          53:17
4. Constantina Dita      Rum        53:23
5. Tirework Mekonnen  Eth          53:37
6. Pauline Wangui        Ken         53:57
7. Fikadu Amelework    Eth          54:01
8. Emily Chemutai        Ken         55:11