There was an easy win for the 22yearold Ethiopian Eshetu Wendimu yesterday (11). He took his second victory of this year in The Netherlands when winning the 20 kilometres at Alphen aan den Rijn. Wendimu had won the Egmond Half Marathon on 14 January.
At six kilometers gone Wendimu left his opponents behind after a rather slow first 5000m (14:30), and although a group of four followed they could never reach the young, very promising Ethiopian, who passed 10 kms in 28:17 and 15 kms in 42:20 on the way to his 56:52 course record win.
In the women’s race Robe Guta and Meriem Wanagari were running for a very long time together. They ran through 10 kms in 33:50 with Hafida Izem, Kirsten Melkevik and Eunice Orwaru also accompanying them.
In the second half of the race Guta and Wanagari left their opponents with Robe winning the race in the final stage.
Wim van Hemert for the IAAF
20 kilometres at Alphen aan den Rijn (The Netherlands)
Sunday March 11th 2007.
Temp 14 degrees CT, sunny, light wind.
Men:
1. Eshetu Wendimu (Eth) 56:52 (course record, old 57:54 Salah Hissou, Morocco 2004)
2. Evan Kiprop Cheruiyot (Ken) 57:34
3. James Yatich (Ken) 57:37
4. Rodgers Rop (Ken) 58:03
5. Paul Kimayo (Ken) 58:08
6. Salim Kipsang (Ken) 59.11
7. Ruben Idongo (Fra) 1:00:19
8. Mesfin Adimasu (Eth) 1:00:42
9: Sander Schutgens (Ned) 1:00:43
10. Saji Bouazza (Mar) 1:00:45
11. John Kyui (Ken) 1:01:25
12. Juwao Wirmai (Zim) 1:02:57
13. Wellay Amare (Eth) 1:03:01
14. Carsten Eich (Ger) 1:03:48
15. Gadisa Abebe (Ned) 1:05:17
Women
1. Robe Guta (Eth) 1:07:46
2. Meriem Wanagari (Ken) 1:07:57
3. Simone Staicu (Hun) 1:09:05
4. Kirsten Melkevik-Otterbu (Nor) 1:09:15
5. Hafida Izem (Mor) 1:09:36
6. Eunice Orwaru (Ken) 1:10:33
7. Petra Kaminkova (Cze) 1:12:29
8. Iva Milesova (Cze) 1:14:56
