Lornah Kiplagat (© Getty Images)
Iten, KenyaSeventeenyearold Tanzanian Josephine Deemay pulled off a surprising win over a strong field of elite athletes to win the High Altitude Training Centre Women's 10km road race in Iten today.
Deemay defied the altitude (2300m above sea level) and thin air to take the race in 34:37 and was followed home by Kenyans Irene Kosgei and Hellen Kimaiyo.
Joyce Chepchumba, who won the New York City Marathon on 3 November, found the going tough and finished 17th (39:16). Esther Kiplagat, who was fourth in the New York race, was not much better as she finished in 16th place also in 39:16.
Another elite athlete in the race, Lornah Kiplagat, who owns the training centre together with her Dutch husband Pieter Langerhorst and together were the race organisers, finished in sixth place. She was timed at 35:50.
The world's second quickest marathoner of all-time Catherine Ndereba and last year's New York City marathon champion Margaret Okayo failed to turn up for the race due to what organisers said were 'unavoidable circumstances.'
The race commemorated the second anniversary of the foundation of the training camp, which is some 20km north of Eldoret, in the north Rift Valley.
Deemay was in the leading group, which included Kiplagat (Lornah), Kimaiyo and Farida Kusi up to 6km, at which point she pulled ahead and continued to widen the gap to the finish.
"It is my first time running outside Tanzania and beating such a field of refined athletes motivates me to perform better. I hope to continue like this in future," commented Deemay. "I am now training for the Tanzanian national Half Marathon race to be held in Arusha on December 21 and I am sure I will win."
Chepchumba and Kiplagat (Esther) were both content with their positions, saying they were yet to fully recover from the battering they received in the New York City race.
"I am happy to finish the race. I thought I would not finish and I have no complaint about my position," said Chepchumba.
For third placed Kimaiyo, it was a perfect tune-up for the Singapore Marathon due next week. "This was good altitude training for the marathon I am preparing for in Singapore and I think I am ready mentally and physically," confirmed Kimaiyo.
Lynne MacDovall was the only Scottish athlete who finished the race, placing 13th in 38 minutes. Her five compatriots found the altitude too tough and dropped out. Uganda's Margaret Nankintu was fourth in 35:19.
Omulo Okoth for the IAAF
Leading results:
1 Josephine Deemay (TAN) 34:37
2 Irene Kosgei (KEN) 34:43
3 Hellen Kimaiyo (KEN) 34:45
4 Margaret Nankintu (UGA) 35:19
5 Ruth Chebii (KEN) 35:44
6 Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 35:50
7 Farida Kusi (TAN) 35:57
8 Zakija Murisho (TAN) 36 :11
9 Emily Rotich (KEN) 36:41
10 Susan Temet (KEN) 36:53
