SA Half Marathon winner, Festus Lagat of Kenya approaches the finish (© Mark Ouma)
eThekini, South AfricaKenya's Festus Lagat beat South Africa’s former New York marathon champion Hendrick Ramaala in windy conditions at the Nedbank South Africa Half Marathon on Sunday (1).
Helalia Johannes of Namibia won the women’s race with a solo effort from just 4km into the race.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) was using today’s event to help select their team for the IAAF World Road Running Championships, Udine, Italy, on 14 October 2007.
MEN
A 30-strong lead group passed through 9km in 9:50, 10k in 29:40, and 15km in 44:25. Lagat who has a PB of 61:01 broke away after 15km, and his surge had the effect of thinning out the lead chase group that consisted of Ramaala, who was fifth in the London Marathon this spring (2:07:56), fellow South Africans Norman Dhlomo and April Lusapho, and the Ethiopians Dejene Juhar and Wegayehu Girma.
Lagat held on easily to win in 1:02:11. The next four places where determined by who had the best leg speed in the last 500m. Ramaala (1:02.42) prevailed over Dhlomo (1:02:44) and Juhar (1:02:53). Although he was fifth,18-year-old Ethiopia Wegayehu Girma won the junior title in a career best of 1:03.08.
"I came prepared to improve on my career best of 1:01:01 which I run in Lisbon last year,” said the winner. “The head wind was quite strong in some parts of the race. So I held back to use the group as a shield from the chilly wind.”
"After 15 km I decided to make my move. We know Ramaala to be a fast finisher so I surged early to avoid being close to him in the last kilometre. The strategy worked. My goal is to compete at the World Road Running Championships. I hope Athletics Kenya will consider me after winning my first major international event.”
Ramaala was gracious in defeat, “Lagat was the best athlete on the day. We tried to catch up it him in the last three kilometres. I am only now beginning to work on my speed. I hope to be in top shape for the marathon at the World Championships in Osaka Japan,” said Ramaala.
WOMEN
Namibia's Helalia Johannes threw down the gauntlet four kilometres into the race, and won in a personal best of 1:11:15.
South African runner up, Rene Kalmer (1:11:56) bettered her career best by over two minutes. She was followed by regular campaigners Zimbabwe's Tabitha Tsatsa (1:12:41), Lesotho's Mamorallo Tjoka (1:14:11), Samukaliso Moyo (1:14:23) of Zimbabwe, Ethiopia's Eyerusalem Kuma (1:16:11) and South African Zintle Xinine (1:16.53) in that order.
"This was a flat course ideal for running fast times,” said Johannes. “There were no sharp turns and this great. My only set back was the chilly head wind. Anyway I am happy that I am in good form. I hope to do well when I represent my country at the All Africa Games in Algiers (Algeria) month.”
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED RESULTS
PB denotes personal best
JA denotes Junior Athlete
MEN
1 Festus Lagat (Kenya) 1:02:11
2 Hendrick Ramaala (South Africa) 1:02.42
3 Norman Dhlomo (South Africa) 1:02:44
4 Dejene Juhar (Ethiopia) 1:02:53
5 Wegayehu Girma (Ethiopia) 1:03.08 JA/PB
6 Kudakwashe Shoko (Zimbabwe) 1:03:14
7 Luketz Swartbooi (Namibia) 1:03:37
8 Kanie Simons (South Africa) 1:03:47
9 Luwis Aasunda (Zimbabwe) 1:03:59
10 April Lusapho (South Africa) 1:04:01
WOMEN
1 Helalia Johannes (Namibia 1:11:15) PB
2 Rene Kalmer (South Africa) 1:11:56 PB
3 Tabitha Tsatsa (Zimbabwe) 1:12:41
4 Mamorallo Tjoka (Lesotho) 1:14:11
5 Samukaliso Moyo (Zimbabwe) 1:14:23
6 Eyerusalem Kuma (Ethiopia) 1:16:11
7 Zintle Xinine (South Africa) 1:16.53
8 Gloria Baeba (South Africa) 1:16:54
9 Annerien van Schalkwyk (South Africa) 1:17:01
10 Beata Naigambo (Zimbabwe) 1:17:27
