Report26 Nov 2012


Geremew edges Kipkemboi in fast Hyderabad 10-K

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Victory for Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew (© Organisers)

26 November 2012 - Hyderabad, India – Running just the third time over the 10 km distance, Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew provided a stunner when he captured the men’s crown in the Jamba Cloud Hyderabad 10K on Sunday (25) clocking a praiseworthy 27:36.  Women’s top honours went to another Ethiopian, Yebrqual Melese.

Kenyans Nicholas Kipkemboi and Daniel Yegon were the men’s pre-race favourites.    

Kipkemboi received fame after he beats fellow Kenyan world record-holder Leonard Komon in the Seven Hills 15K run at Nijmegen, Netherlands, barely a week ago. Coming to Hyderabad with a previous best of 28:33 from another race at Holland earlier this summer, Kipkemboi predicted to go under 28 minutes here. Yegon, last year’s winner here, also expressed confidence in defending his title.

When the race was flagged off at People’s Plaza, both Kipkemboi and Yegon bounced into front running positions. Also in the lead group were Jackson Kiprop of Uganda and Geremew.  Kiprop, who finished seventh in the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships at Kavarna, Bulgaria, last month, had a PB of 28:35. Geremew, the winner of Great Ethiopian Run at Addis Ababa last year, entered the fray with a fast 27:53 he achieved for a win earlier this April at Paderborn, Germany.

Running around the popular Hussain Sagar Lake, Geremew put pressure on the two Kenyans and Kiprop as he increased the pace during the race’s second half. Turning towards the finish the Ethiopian produced a strong kick with Kipkemboi still at his side.  In what should be considered as the finest race of his career, Geremew clocked an impressive 27:36, beating the Kenyan at the tape. The Ethiopian’s time was the second fastest for this distance this season, behind Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai’s 27:29 recorded at Boston in June. Kipkemboi, a shade away in 27:37, finished second while Ugandan Kiprop completed the podium in 28:16. All three clocked personal bests.

“Hyderabad was a new experience (for me).  It was a little hot (today) but running in this city was a pleasure as I also recorded my PB,” the 20-year-old Geremew said.

Kipkemboi found the climate of Hyderabad matching his home’s and expressed interest in returning next year. Kiprop said he liked the conditions, enthusiasm of people and the whole environment.

Melese joins Ethiopian party with women’s title

Kenyan Beatrice Mutai was a favourite at the starting line-up for women’s race.  Having finished third in the Nijmegen 15K behind Ethiopian stars Tirunesh Dibaba and Tiki Gelana, Mutai was expected to create fireworks at Hyderabad. However another Ethiopian spoilt Mutai’s ambition in the Indian city that was once ruled by the Nizams and is a treasure-trove of several heritage monuments.

Melese, the 22-year-old Ethiopian who finished fourth in this year’s Delhi Malf-Marathon, faced a stiff challenge from Mutai all the way.  But a determined Melese pulled away in the final kilometre to win the race in a modest 33:21 clocking with Mutai crossing the line 15 seconds later.

The women’s race also witnessed an Indian on the podium in Olympian Sudha Singh. Singh, already popular after her 3000m Steeplechase gold medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou two years ago, represented the nation at the London Olympics this summer.  She has made it a habit to run the distance races on road for quite some years and her experience paid off well when she clocked 35:18 for her third place today. Her training-mate and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kavita Raut finished fourth in 36:01.

Rattiram Saini was fastest among the Indian men in 30:16. 

As many as 2500 runners took part in the 10k race with another 6000 in the shorter Mazza run.  Tollywood Megastar Chiranjeevi, former All-England Badminton champion Pullela Gopichand and ace tennis player Sania Mirza were among the celebrities who graced the occasion to cheer the participants.   

The Hyderabad race, established nine years ago by the 10K Foundation and was an annual feature in the Andhra Pradesh capital, received further significance this year as it comes under the tutelage of Procam International - the promoters of three IAAF Gold Label road races in India at Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Ram. Murali Krishnan for the IAAF

Leading Results:

MEN -

1. Mosinet Geremew, ETH 27:36

2. Nicholas Kipkemboi, KEN 27:37

3. Jackson Kiprop, UGA 28:16

4. Daniel Yegon, KEN 28:41

5. Hillary Kemboi ,KEN 28:52

6. Sibusiso Nizima, RSA 29:35

7. Obadiah Kemboi Kisang, KEN 29:39

8. Rattiram Saini, IND 30:16

WOMEN -

1. Yebrqual Melese, ETH 33:21

2. Beatrice Mutai, KEN 33:36

3. Sudha Singh, IND 35:18

4. Kavita Raut, IND 36:01

5. Kiplagat Eunice Jerotich, KEN 36:13

6. Monica Athare, IND 37:21

7. Monica Raut IND 38:13

8. Rohini Raut IND 38:57

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