General view - road running (© Getty Images)
Kenyans Geoffrey Kenesi and Gladys Kipsoi won the 38th edition of " Semi-Marathon d’Auray-Vannes" – an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race - on Sunday (9) afternoon.
The start of the 21.1 km point-to-point course was given to the 5070 registered participants at 3pm under warm and cloudy conditions. GKenesi took an early lead in the race, controlling the pack of African runners, before sailing away. Having run 1:01:14 to take ninth place in Lille on 1st September, The 22-year-old seemed able to break the 1:02:12 race record held by his compatriot Cheseret since 2001. Unfortunately, the conditions prevented him to run that fast and he won in 1:02:35, by a very wide. A distant second was Ethiopian Abebe Degefa, who crossed the line 1:25 later.
About 25,000 spectators were encouraging the runners along the roads of Brittany. In the absence of last years’s winner Rose Chelimo, who set the race record (1:11:27) in the process, Gladys Kipsoi was the favourite. Author of a 1:09:22 for seventh place in Lille, she was challenged in Lille by Ethiopian Eshetu Hiruktait. However, the Kenyan was the clear leader as she successfully passed the main and last difficult portion of the course, the Vincin hill, with two kilometers to go. Kipsoi entered the Kercado stadium alone, to win in 1:12.14, 38 second before the Ethiopian, Eshetu Hiruktait.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF
Leading RESULTS:
MEN -
1. Geoffrey Kenesi, KEN, 1:02:35
2. Abebe Negewo Degefa, 1984, ETH, 1:04:00
3. Justas Moranga, KEN, 1:04:02
4. James Kibocha Theuri, FRA, 1:04:16
5. Willy Nduwimana, BDI, 1:05:09
WOMEN -
1. Gladys Kipsoi, KEN, 1:12:14
2. Eshetu Hiruktait, ETH, 1:12:52
3. Mercelina Ondieki, FRA, 1:13:05
4. Dehininet Demsew, ETH, 1:15:04
5. Nancy Omwenga, KEN, 1:15:48
Click here for FULL RESULTS
The start of the 21.1 km point-to-point course was given to the 5070 registered participants at 3pm under warm and cloudy conditions. GKenesi took an early lead in the race, controlling the pack of African runners, before sailing away. Having run 1:01:14 to take ninth place in Lille on 1st September, The 22-year-old seemed able to break the 1:02:12 race record held by his compatriot Cheseret since 2001. Unfortunately, the conditions prevented him to run that fast and he won in 1:02:35, by a very wide. A distant second was Ethiopian Abebe Degefa, who crossed the line 1:25 later.
About 25,000 spectators were encouraging the runners along the roads of Brittany. In the absence of last years’s winner Rose Chelimo, who set the race record (1:11:27) in the process, Gladys Kipsoi was the favourite. Author of a 1:09:22 for seventh place in Lille, she was challenged in Lille by Ethiopian Eshetu Hiruktait. However, the Kenyan was the clear leader as she successfully passed the main and last difficult portion of the course, the Vincin hill, with two kilometers to go. Kipsoi entered the Kercado stadium alone, to win in 1:12.14, 38 second before the Ethiopian, Eshetu Hiruktait.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF
Leading RESULTS:
MEN -
1. Geoffrey Kenesi, KEN, 1:02:35
2. Abebe Negewo Degefa, 1984, ETH, 1:04:00
3. Justas Moranga, KEN, 1:04:02
4. James Kibocha Theuri, FRA, 1:04:16
5. Willy Nduwimana, BDI, 1:05:09
WOMEN -
1. Gladys Kipsoi, KEN, 1:12:14
2. Eshetu Hiruktait, ETH, 1:12:52
3. Mercelina Ondieki, FRA, 1:13:05
4. Dehininet Demsew, ETH, 1:15:04
5. Nancy Omwenga, KEN, 1:15:48
Click here for FULL RESULTS
