Linet Masai taking another victory at the New York mini 10Km (© NYRR)
New York, USA - Linet Masai of Kenya dominated her second consecutive NYRR New York Mini 10K today, winning by 29 seconds in a time of 31:40. Aheza Kiros and Belainesh Gebre, both of Ethiopia, fought a close battle for second place, with Kiros prevailing by one second, 32:09 to 32:10.
Some 4700 women participated in this 40th running of the Mini, which was dedicated to Norwegian distance legend Grete Waitz, a five-time winner of the race (1979-82, 1984). Waitz died on 19 April after a long battle with cancer.
Masai, 21, broke away from a large front pack near the two-mile mark and extended her lead from there.
“I planned to make a move at 5K,” she said, “but the pace was slow, so I went earlier.” The first mile, along a straight, flat stretch of Central Park West, was run in 5:20—about 20 seconds slower than usual at this race.
Fourth place went to reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya (32:24). Her compatriot Emily Chebet, last year’s runner-up, followed in fifth (32:31). New Zealand’s Kim Smith, who was forced to drop out of this year’s Boston Marathon with a calf injury while leading at 30K, rebounded here to take sixth in 32:32. The next four places were taken by Olympians from four countries: Alessandra Aguilar of Spain (32:56), Eloise Wellings of Australia (33:06), Magdalena Lewy Boulet of the United States (33:09), and Anna Incerti of Italy (33:25).
High humidity made conditions tougher than at last year’s race, which Masai won in 30:48. “I had some trouble breathing, with the humidity,” said Kiros, 29, winner of this year’s Carlsbad 5000 in California.
U.S. Marathon record-holder Deena Kastor, 38, made her return to racing after the birth of her daughter, Piper Bloom, three months ago. She finished 25th in 35:00.
A group called Friends of Grete ran the race in Waitz’s honour, wearing shirts that read “This one’s for Grete.” The group included Waitz’s husband Jack Waitz and her brother Jan Andersen; they became the first-ever male finishers in this all-women’s event, which was founded by Waitz’s friend Fred Lebow, the late New York Road Runners president, in 1972.
Organisers (NYRRC) for the IAAF
