Kenya’s
Sammy Kipketer and Sally Barsosio Grab Carlsbad 5000 Titles
Jen Gross (Elite Racing)
1 April 2001 – Carlsbad - Nineteen-year-old Sammy Kipketer of Kenya astonished the road racing world for the second straight year, equalling his own 5000 metre world best performance winning the Carlsbad 5000 in 13 minutes flat. Fellow Kenyan Sally Barsosio broke away from Ethiopia’s Eyerusalem Kuma in the final 500 metres to capture her second Carlsbad crown in 15:20. Both champions collected $5,000 for their victories.
Kipketer shattered the world best at last year’s Carlsbad 5000, taking 12 seconds off William Mutwol’s previous record set at Carlsbad in 1992. As thousands of enthusiastic Carlsbad fans cheered him on in anticipation of another world leading performance, Kipketer just missed becoming the first man to run sub-13:00 on the roads.
"I wanted to break the world best and I knew I had it," said Kipketer. "I slowed just a little to enjoy the moment and lost it." Kipketer would have received a $10,000 bonus for breaking the world record. "I’m not sad," continued Kipketer. "I do not spend my winnings. Racing is the most important thing to me and I will use this as motivation for next time."
A strong Kenyan contingent captured the top six Invitational slots, with Luke Kipkosgei finishing second in 13:21, Abraham Chebii in 13:23, Tom Nyariki in 13:24, Leonard Mucheru in 13:26 and Reuben Cheruiyot in 13:28.
In a women’s race that saw three pre-race scratches from 2000 champion Deena Drossin of Colorado, 2000 Olympic gold and silver medallist Gete Wami of Ethiopia and Rose Cheruiyot of Kenya, Kenya’s Sally Barsosio outkicked Ethiopia’s Eyersulam Kuma by four seconds, breaking the tape in 15:20. Barsosio finished fifth here last year after winning the race in 1997. Ninteen-year-old Kuma crossed the finish in 15:24 followed by California’s Sylvia Mosqueda, 34, in 15:32.
"I did not realise that Deena [Drossin] was not in the race," said Barsosio. "I kept waiting for her to pass. That is what kept me going strong."
Drossin did not compete because of allergies and congestion. Wami and Cheruiyot were denied visas to the United States by the U.S. consulate in The Netherlands after competing in the World Cross Country Championships in Belgium last week.
For more results, go to the Carlsbad 5000 website: http://www.eliteracing.com
