News24 Oct 2010


Ebuya clocks the fastest ever 10 Miles in UK

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Joseph Ebuya and Grace Momyani winners of the 2010 Bupa Gt South Run (© Getty Images)

World Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya with his latest vintage performance roared to a UK All-Comers' 10 miles record at the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday (24).

The Bupa Great South Run is a Gold Label Road Race.

MEN's race

Ebuya, who was assisted  by perfect weather conditions, effortlessly strolled around the flat and fast course to destroy his rivals with a dominating victory in a world leading time for the year time of 45:16.

The Kenyans confident solo display, more importantly struck-off a huge 40 seconds from the long standing fastest ever mark on British soil of 45 minutes 56 seconds which Benson Masya had achieved with his Bupa Great South Run success 15 years ago.

The 23-year-old Ebuya running solo against the clock after just over three miles demolished the threats of Qatar’s Saif Saaeed Shaheen and fellow Kenyan Vincent Yator who finished well behind in times of 46:37 and 47:28 respectively.
 
"I think with pacemakers I could probably have run closer to 45 minutes but it doesn't matter - this is an important win," said Ebuya who burst into global prominence when winning the World Cross title in March.

"The conditions were right for fast running and although Shaheen and Yator looked good in the early stages, they had no answer when I pulled clear between three and four miles.”

"I didn't feel as if I was competing in an empty space when alone. The support from the spectators all of the way was unbelievable. I've never seen so many watching a race, they were spilling into the streets."

Ebuya added: "I don't want to talk about whether I could have ran under 45 minutes if there had been more competition. I prepared well for this race and I'm really pleased that I did win.”

"Now I want to go back home to get Kenya and get ready for the cross country season," said Ebuya who plans starting his winter campaign with a
 a pre-Christmas outing in Spain.

Shaheen in only his second ever road race, said: "That was a hard test for me and I'm pleased how it went. I knew Ebuya was in good shape and would have liked to have stayed with him but he didn't give anyone a chance."
 
Scott Overall went to the top of the UK rankings when in a close domestic battle clinching fourth position by just four seconds ahead of Scotland’s Andrew Lemoncello in a time of 47:37.

WOMEN's race

Grace Momyani crowned Commonwealth 10,000 metres gold medallist at the beginning of the month, made it the first Kenyan double for three years when taking the women's title in 52:03.

"I feel okay, I wasn't certain how I would perform as I had little time to prepare after competing in Delhi," said Momyani who missed her personal best by just 12 seconds.

"I felt full of running all of the way around and the good conditions made it so easy for me. This was a good result and very important as eventually I will be moving to the marathon."

Behind her Freya Murray grabbed some of the limelight when in her first ever 10 miler becoming the UK's fifth fastest ever performer in a time of 52:27. Murray fifth behind Momyani in their track encounter in Delhi surpassed even her USA-based coach Steve Jones - the British marathon record holder - expectation's when beating off the challenge of much more fancied rivals.

Her opponents included Hungary's number one Aniko Kalovics third in 53:01, whose superfast first mile reduced the very strong field to a pack of four which included Italy's Anna Incerti with domestic hope Steph Twell trailing by 30 metres.

"I couldn't believe it, I didn't know what to expect in my first race at the distance," said Murray after being advised to run by Jones following a tough training session on Wednesday night.

"I spoke with Steve on the telephone and he told me to get out there and mix it, give it my best shot," added Murray now Scotland's second fastest behind Liz McColgan's clocking of exactly 52 minutes which she achieved when winning the 1997 Great South Run.

Murray moving to fifth in the UK all-time rankings and the top of this year's UK list, added: "When Grace broke away Kalovics was still running strongly and I was determined to stay with her. I just kept telling myself 'go-go-go', and it paid off when I got clear at halfway and that made me more determined to stay in front. I'm amazed to have ran so quickly as I was quite tired after Delhi. But it was something new and has certainly told me a lot about myself and longer distances."

Kalovics really upbeat after her podium finish, said: "I'm really pleased I ran so well over 10 miles. All of my training has been geared towards next Sunday's Frankfurt Marathon."

The Magyar who will chase a sixth career marathon success at the German race, added: "I felt great today and the result will give me more confidence before next weekend."

Murray's fellow Scot Twell who makes no secret she will ultimately take to the roads and hopefully follow in the footsteps of World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe, declared herself happy with her sixth position.
The Commonwealth 1500m bronze medallist who clocked 53:52sec on her debut, said: "I ran a conservative race as to be honest all my training this summer has been based around 1500m which is not exactly the best preparations for this distance.”

"But I did feel comfortable throughout the race and it was something new for me to do. Yes, I will move up eventually to longer distances but not for the moment."

The 21-year-old Anglo-Scot with the 2012 London Olympic Games a major target, added: "Before I do I want to run a really fast 1500m time.”

Dave Martin for the IAAF

RESULTS (10 miles)

MEN
1, J Ebuya (Kenya) 45 minutes 16 seconds
2, S Shaheen (Qatar) 46:37
3, V Yator (Ken) 47:28
4, S Overall (GBR) 47:37
5, A Lemoncello (GBR) 47:41
6, G Weidlinger (Austria) 48:07
7, M Kenneally (Ireland) 48:17
8, G Thornton (Ireland) 48:22

…9, V Rothlin (Switzerland) 48:43

WOMEN
1, G Momyani (Kenya) 52:03
2, F Murray (GBR) 52:27
3, A Kalovics (Hungary) 53:01
4, A Incerti (Italy) 53:34
5, G Steel (GBR) 53:44
6, S Twell (GBR) 53:52
7, K Papp (Hungary) 54:01
8, R Robinson (GBR) 54:52

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