Zersenay Tadesse crosses the finish for Eritrea's first World title (© Getty Images)
World Road Running champion Zersenay Tadesse, who will defend his title in Udine, Italy, later this month, was an impressive winner of yesterday’s 23rd edition of the 'Dam tot Dam' run over 10 Miles from Amsterdam to Zaandam (23 Sep).
The Eritrean clocked a time of 45:52 for the distance. He arrived n Zaandam 29 seconds ahead of Kenyan Bernard Kipyego. Another Kenyan runner James Rotich, was nearly a minute back as he crossed the finish line for third in 46:50.
The women’s race was won by Belaynesh Fikadu of Ethiopia in 52:58. Hilda Kibet of Kenya, who will soon become Dutch, took second place 29 seconds back. Pauline Wangui of Kenya finished third in 53:44. Over 35.000 runners, over several distances took part in the race.
Race within a race
As always at this race, the male runners started 5:46 minutes - the average difference between the winning times of the men and women - behind the women competitors, setting up a race within a race. The men however ended up coming home ahead of the women.
On a day of nice sunny weather (22 degrees CT) and nearly no wind the start of the race was not extremely fast. Tadesse, who took the 2007 World Cross Country title and last year’s World Road Running Championship, clocked 14:28 for the first five kilometres, at which point Kipyego was three seconds back.
At the 10 kilometres point Tadeese was clocked at 28:34 with Kipyego his only serious opponent some seven seconds back. Two and a half kilometres further on Tadesse registered 35:51, with the Kenyan in second place now further adrift - 36:04.
In fine style the Eritrean passed 15kms in 35:51, and his winning time of 45:52 was the world’s fastest for the distance this year.
In the women’s race Belaynesh Fikadu and Hilda Kibet, were together until 10 kilometres. After that point the Ethiopian runner broke away, passing the 12.5kms marker five seconds ahead of Kibet in 41:25. After that Fikudu extended her lead to the finish.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
23rd Dam tot Damloop (10Miles) at Zaandam (The Netherlands) Sunday 23 September
Men
1. Zersenay Tadesse (Eri) 45:52 (splits: 14:28- 28:34-42:58)
2. Bernard Kipyego (Ken) 46:21 (splits: 14:31-28:41-43:15)
3. James Rotich (Ken) 46:50
4. Wesley Langat (Ken) 46:56
5. Kamiel Maase (Ned) 47:11
6. Sammy Rongo (Ken) 47:51
7. Jackson Koech (Ken) 48:11
8. Jesse Stroobants (Bel) 48:13
Women
1. Belaynesh Fikadu (Eth) 52:58 (splits: 16:38-33:01-49:35)
2. Hilda Kibet (Ken) 53:27 (splits: 16:37-33:01-49:53)
3. Pauline Wangui (Ken) 53:44
4. Flomena Chepchirchir (Ken) 54:22
5. Dorota Gracu (Pol) 55:20
6. Volha Krautsova (Blr) 55:50
7. Anke van Campen (Bel) 57:26
8. Kutre Dulecha (Eth) 57:27
