Leonard Komon taking another Berlin 10km victory (© BERLIN RUNS / Jürgen Engler)
Leonard Komon and Anna Hahner took the ASICS Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday. For the Kenyan it was the third victory in a row at this race and once again he achieved a world-class time. The 24-year-old clocked 27:46 while Germany’s new distance running hope Anna Hahner ran 33:50.
Komon, the course record holder who had run 27:12 in 2010 and then 27:15 a year ago in this race, took the lead early on and was in the fifth kilometre when he left his rivals behind.
Komon then passed the 5-K mark in a very quick 13:34. But during the second half of the race the wind was blowing into the face of the 10-K World record holder (26:44) and he could not keep his fast pace. In the end he missed his goal of setting a world lead – this time stands at 27:29 – by 17 seconds. Komon’s 27:46 still is a very fast time, the tenth fastest in the year so far.
"It was a pity that the wind was so strong in the second half," Komon said. "I think I will come back to the ASICS Grand 10 once again next year to give it another try."
The next two runners also clocked fine times. In a sprint finish for second place Kenyan David Kogei just edged out his fellow countryman Richard Mengich. Both runners were given the same time of 27:56, personal bests for both. Kennedy Kimutai (28:14) and Alex Korio (28:15/both Kenya) followed in fourth and fifth place.
Only two weeks after clocking 2:30:37 for eighth place in the Berlin Marathon Hahner returned to the German capital. This time she was number one. The 22-year-old showed a fine race, clocking 33:50. She was well ahead of Lucie Sekanova (Czech Republic/34:23) and Lisabeth Wagner (Germany/36:22).
"It was going well for me, although obviously I felt that I was not that fresh just two weeks after the Marathon. But I am happy with my race and enjoyed the atmosphere," said Hahner, who has a marathon PB of 2:30:14 from her debut in Düsseldorf earlier in the year.
"The ASICS Grand 10 have developed well," said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky. "We have established the race as a top 10-K event. Unfortunately the wind prevented faster times today." Organisers registered a record entry for the fifth edition with 7225 runners.
Organisers for the IAAF
Komon, the course record holder who had run 27:12 in 2010 and then 27:15 a year ago in this race, took the lead early on and was in the fifth kilometre when he left his rivals behind.
Komon then passed the 5-K mark in a very quick 13:34. But during the second half of the race the wind was blowing into the face of the 10-K World record holder (26:44) and he could not keep his fast pace. In the end he missed his goal of setting a world lead – this time stands at 27:29 – by 17 seconds. Komon’s 27:46 still is a very fast time, the tenth fastest in the year so far.
"It was a pity that the wind was so strong in the second half," Komon said. "I think I will come back to the ASICS Grand 10 once again next year to give it another try."
The next two runners also clocked fine times. In a sprint finish for second place Kenyan David Kogei just edged out his fellow countryman Richard Mengich. Both runners were given the same time of 27:56, personal bests for both. Kennedy Kimutai (28:14) and Alex Korio (28:15/both Kenya) followed in fourth and fifth place.
Only two weeks after clocking 2:30:37 for eighth place in the Berlin Marathon Hahner returned to the German capital. This time she was number one. The 22-year-old showed a fine race, clocking 33:50. She was well ahead of Lucie Sekanova (Czech Republic/34:23) and Lisabeth Wagner (Germany/36:22).
"It was going well for me, although obviously I felt that I was not that fresh just two weeks after the Marathon. But I am happy with my race and enjoyed the atmosphere," said Hahner, who has a marathon PB of 2:30:14 from her debut in Düsseldorf earlier in the year.
"The ASICS Grand 10 have developed well," said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky. "We have established the race as a top 10-K event. Unfortunately the wind prevented faster times today." Organisers registered a record entry for the fifth edition with 7225 runners.
Organisers for the IAAF
