Kenyan 10km double in Ireland

Abraham Chebii and Doris Changeywo brought home a Kenyan double at today's Great Ireland Run 10km in Dublin.

MEN

Abraham Chebii in a very close encounter defended his men's title when holding off former Kenyan teammate Abdullah Ahmad Hassan by just three seconds in a time of 28:48.

"He made me fight all of the way before I put in a sprint in the last 300 metres," said Chebii of his rival, the former Albert Chepkurui who now represents Qatar under the name of Abdullah Ahmad Hassan.

The pair of African's fought their own battle, although seven-times European Cross Country champion Sergiy Lebid, put up a strong performance when finishing just eight seconds behind Hassan.

Nick McCormick with a solid show was first home Briton home behind the Ukrainian, in a respectable time of 29:18.

WOMEN

The 23-year-old Doris Changeywo displaying the strength which earned her fourth place at last weekend's World Cross Country Championships, gradually ground down her major rivals who included Australia’s Benita Johnson and Aniko Kalovics of Hungary, until with three kilometres remaining, the duel was between herself and Britain’s Jo Pavey.

Pavey running only her second race for over six months, managed to maintain her momentum and a place alongside the Kenyan until Changeywo released a seering turn of speed on the courses biggest hill with just under two kilometres to run to win 32:15 to 32:22

With Johnson fading to seventh, Kalovics produced 32:45sec for third.

Changeywo’s success made it a double family success as her partner Moses Masai won the Parelloop 10km road race in Brunsuum, Holland earlier in the day..

Dave Martin – PA International – for the IAAF

RESULTS

Men
 
1, A Chebii (Kenya) 28:48
2, A Hassan (Qatar) 28:51
3, S Lebid (Ukraine) 28:59
4, N McCormick (GB) 29:18
5, M Dent (Australia) 29.38
6, I Babaryka (Ukraine) 29:41
7, A Lemoncello (GB)30:01
8, M Geele (Somalia) 30:24
9, O Kack (Sweden) 30:35
10, V Mulvey (Ireland) 30:41

Women
1, D Changeywo (Kenya) 32:15
2, J Pavey (GB) 32:22
3, A Kalovics (Hungary) 32:45
4, K Reed (GB) 32:50
5, L Weightman (Australia) 32:58
6, H Clitheroe (GB) 33:14
7, B Johnson (Australia) 33:36
8, V Mitchell (Australia)34:42
9, M McCambridge Ireland) 35:13
10, S O'Sullivan (Ireland) 35:33.