Robert Kipchumba wins the half marathon in Udine (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Robert Kipchumba and Pamela Chepchumba won the Udine International Half Marathon in the north-eastern part of Italy held on a sunny and warm day (25).
Udine’s course is flat and very fast as shown by the race record set by Patrick Ivuti who ran an outstanding 59:45 in 2002. The event was an important test for Udine which is bidding to host the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships. The IAAF will choose the host city between Boston, Udine, Addis Abeba and Copenhagen on 13 November in Moscow.
Pamela Chepchmba fulfilled the fast reputation of Udine’s course setting the second fastest time in the world this year with 69:09. Only the US star Deena Kastor has run faster in 2005 with 67:53 in Philadelphia. However, Chepchumba’s final time was far from the women Udine race record set by the two-time New York marathon winner Margaret Okayo who ran 67:23 in 2003.
Robert Kipchumba, who won the World Junior title on the track at 10,000m and in the cross country and took the honours at the Stramilano 2004 in 60:22, ran 61:13 today to beat his compatriots Matthew Sigei Kipkorir (61:23) and Francis Kiprop (61:32). The race was totally dominated by Kenyans who took the first eight spots in the final results.
MEN
Pacemaker Pius Muli from Kenya, the 1999 World Youth 3000m champion, set the early pace passing first 5km in 14:52. Four runners from Kenya (Muli, Wilson Kiprono Kenei, Mathew Sigei Kipkorir and Robert Kipchumba) led at this stage with a gap of one second over Benson Barus and Francis Kiprop. At this stage the leading group was about 45 seconds behind the course record of Patrick Ivuti.
Muli reached the 10km mark in 30:42, followed one second behind by Kiprop, Sigei, Kipchumba and Kenei. After Muli finished his pacemaking task at 15 km (43:36) a trio formed by Kipchumba, Sigei and Kiprop pulled clear of the rest of the field with 3km to go. The 20km mark was marked by the decisive attack of Kipchumba who pushed the pace in the final stages crossing the finish-line in 61:13.
“The course was fast but I am not particularly happy with the time. Last week I fell during the Misterbianco road race in Italy where I finished sixth. For this reason I could not run faster today”, said Kipchumba.
WOMEN
Pamela Chepchumba made a successful comeback from maternity leave with a solid win in 69:09 after a battle with her compatriot Rose Jepchumba (second with 70:15). Third was the Hungarian Aniko Kalovics (1:11:01) who collected her third podium in Udine after reaching that position in both 2002 and 2003.
Chepchumba, who trains in the Kapsait Camp in Kenya, ran in the front for most of the race with Jepchumba. The Kenyan duo passed 5km in 16:32 (with a gap of one second over Kalovics) and the 10km in 34:41 (Kalovics 34:44).
Kalovics was dropped by Chepchumba and Jepchumba who led the Hungarian by 12 seconds at 12km. Chepchumba increased the pace at 15km which she reached in 49:23. In the final kilometres Chepchumba (20km mark in 65:03) dropped Jepchumba by a solid marging and crossed the finish-line in 69:09.
“I realised that I could win at 15km when I pushed the pace. But I did not expect to run so fast. I am really surprised”, said a delighted Chepchumba.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Selected results from the Udine Half Marathon:
Men:
1 Robert Kipchumba (Kenya) 61:13
2 Mathew Sigei Kipkorir (Kenya) 61:23
3 Francis Kiprop (Kenya) 61:32
4 Wilson Kiprono Kenei (Kenei) 61:38
5 Benson Barus (Kenya) 61:52
6 Yussuf Songoka (Kenya) 61:57
7 John Ngeno (Kenya) 62:20
8 Paul Kipkemei Kogo (Kenya) 63:17
9 Abyote Guta (Ethiopia) 64:10
10 Denis Curzi (Italy) 64:12
Women:
1 Pamela Chepchumba (Kenya) 69:09
2 Rose Jepchumba (Kenya) 70:15
3 Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 71:01
4 Helena Javornik (Slovenia) 72:59
5 Renate Runnger (Italy) 75:06
6 Silvia Sommaggio (Italy) 75:43
