Benita Johnson (AUS) (© Getty Images)
Portsmouth, UKAustralia's World Cross Country Champion Benita Johnson narrowly missed breaking the long-standing Australian 10-mile record in today’s BUPA Great South Run which attracted a field of 15,000 runners.
Given no help whatsoever by the strong winds whipping off the Solent, Johnson was nine seconds shy of Lisa Ondieki's 1987 mark. The weather, and the fact she was running on her own for almost the entire second half of the race, slowed her to a winning time of 52:32.
“I'm more than happy with my performance and I was hoping to tuck in with some of the men so they could help me out,” said Johnson, who broke away from her rivals after four miles to complete a fine double, after winning last month's Great North Run.
She finished 24th overall in the mixed race, and added: “I was running in a vacuum after five miles, although I stayed motivated but couldn't quite catch the guy ahead of me. As I'm also into a heavy training programme for next month's New York Marathon I also felt a little tired from those preparations.”
Portugal’s Jessica Augusto was second in 53:17, with Kenyan Rahab Ndungu two seconds further back.
Ramaala forges against wind for win
South African Hendrick Ramaala won the men's title, opening up a narrow lead over Kenyan Francis Bowen with two miles remaining.
The pair had forged ahead after four miles, and Bowen bore the brunt of the headwind But Ramaala, a two-times silver medallist at the World Half Marathon, took total control on the homeward stretch and relished running with the wind at his back.
He won by just two seconds in 47:14, but the South African had enjoyed an early celebration with spectators, allowing Bowen to make up plenty of lost ground in the final 300 metres. Mustapha Essaid of France finished third in 47:55.
“That wasn't easy at all and hard work,'' said Ramaala, who ran the world's fastest 10 mile race of the year (45:49) three weeks ago in Holland. Ramaala will also be competing in the New York Marathon on November 7, and this was good preparation.
“I would have liked to have gone faster, but in the conditions that wasn't possible,” he said. But I've beaten a very strong field and it is a perfect build-up to the marathon next month.”
Dave Martin - PA International for the IAAF
