News02 Dec 2006


Busendich denies Kibiwott, as runners battle with traffic in Lagos

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left to right: Francis Kibiwott (Ken), Solomon Busendich (Ken), Dieudonné Disi (RWA) after the end of the 2006 Lagos Half Marathon (© Louisette Thobi)

Kenyan Solomon Busendich, this year’s Ameterdam marathon champion, won 5th edition of the MTN International Half Marathon in Lagos, Nigeria, yesterday (1 Dec) despite coming across heavy traffic on the supposedly closed race route.

The race attracted 48,489 registered starters, and this year was dedicated to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Solomon Busendich, 22, was timed as crossing the finish in 63:18, a long way off Joseph Fabiano Naasi (TAN) course record of 62:21. But given the conditions which the runners themselves described they faced on the course it is perhaps best to see the times as nothing more than a guide to their efforts:

“After the 14th km, we met a big traffic jammed route that made us, Francis Kibiwott and me, lose hope,” said the winner. “At that moment I asked myself if we had missed the way. We were losing concentration but the most important thing was to finish the race.”

As soon as the race began, a group of six runners formed at the front, led by John Cheruyot Korir who won this race in 2004, and was second last year. However, after 20 minutes had been run, Francis Kibiwott, the recent winner of the Obudu Ranch International Mountain race changed upped the pace. At this point only the Rwandan Dieudonné Disi, Korir and Busendich were able to closely follow him. This quartet ran up to the Ahmadu Bello Way where Korir found the speed too much and virtually gave up, and as such the ultimate top-3 were decided.

By the 13th kilometre, the two remaining Kenyans Kibiwott and Busendich accelerated and left Disi behind. “At that moment, we were enjoying the race and I told Francis to raise the gap because the other guys were chasing us,” said Busendich, and the gap between the two leaders and the third placer gradually got wider and wider.

When it came down to the final sprint, Kibiwott was found wanting, “…I was tired, he is stronger than me”, while Busendich “decided to run behind him so that I could win the sprinting stage.”

The women’s race was at the last minute honoured by the return of the race winner Millicent Doadi of Ghana, who retained her title in 76:50 beating Jennifer Chesinon, the 2004 winner who has taken Marathon victories in Carpi and Brussels in her career, second in 77:42 and the Nigerian Maria Kabang a very distant third (85:52).

Louisette Thobi for the IAAF

Results

Men
1. Solomon Busendich (Ken) 63.18
2. Francis Kibiwott (Ken) 63.19
3. Dieudonné Disi (Rwa) 66.17
4. John Cheruyiot Korir (Ken) 66.51
5. Martin Sulle (Tan) 68.14
6. Wilson Eku (Ngr) 68.45

Women
1. Millicent Doadi (Gha) 76.50
2. Jennifer Chesinon (Ken) 77.42
3. Maria Kabang (Ngr) 85.52

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