Report05 Jan 2008


Kipsiro defends, Yelling dominates – Belfast Cross Country report

FacebookTwitterEmail

Moses Kipsiro successfully defends in Belfast (© Mark Shearman)

BelfastIAAF world 5000m bronze medallist Moses Kipsiro became only the third man in history to successful defend the Belfast International Cross Country – IAAF Permit - with a blistering mid-winter performance in atrocious conditions at the Stormont Estate on Saturday (5).

Snow flurries of up to 16cm the previous day had left the picturesque course covered in a white blanket, although a gradual thaw had left runners an uninviting mixture of slush and cloying mud to negotiate.

Late race burst seals victory for Kipsiro

However, Kipsiro, of Uganda, who achieved his greatest feat when winning bronze in the 5000m title in the vastly contrasting heat and humidity of Osaka last summer, showed his versatility by pulling away in the latter stages to a claim an impressive five-second success from the 2006 champion Barnabas Kosgei.

On a churned up course which resembled a quagmire by the time of the final race it was no great surprise Kipsiro and the Kenyan duo of Kosgei and Patrick Makau were quickly to the fore and the threesome opened up a ten-metre gap on the chasing Mike Skinner of Britain after lap one of the five lap test.

The defending champion looked comfortable on the most demanding of surfaces and at the bell led from Makau, the IAAF World Road Running silver medallist, with Kosgei a few metres adrift.

Makau, the road running specialist, was the first to crack in the early stages of the final lap quickly dropping off the pace as Kipsiro forged ahead.

In the final 500m the outcome of the race was decided as Kipsiro unleashed the same trademark kick finish which took him to victory 12 months ago to shatter Kosgei’s resolve and open up a winning lead.

Kipsiro, 21, who matched Great Britain’s Roger Hackney and Ismael Kirui of Kenya as successive Belfast Cross Country International winners, admitted he was relieved to win.

“I am very happy to win, it was my first time in the snow,” said Kipsiro who won on the roads over 8km in Trier, Germany on New Year’s Eve. “It was very slippery. I didn’t like the conditions. It was the worst I have ever ran in.”

Kosgei, who was 34th in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa last year, echoed Kipsiro’s opinion.

“It was very hard and the first time I have competed in snow,” he added. “I have come from temperatures of 30c in Kenya and I had problems with my chest and head.”

Makau also suffered in the cold weather in the latter stages and struggled with chest problems, fading to finish third - more than 40 seconds behind Kipsiro.

Skinner produced one of the best performances of his career to place fourth - ten seconds adrift of Makau.

In Masai’s absence, Yelling takes command – women’s race

The women’s race was chiefly a British and Irish affair following the withdrawal of Kenya’s World junior Cross Country champion Linet Masai, who could not to travel to Belfast because of the ongoing crisis in her homeland.

In Masai’s absence, former European cross country champion Hayley Yelling called upon her vast experience with an aggressive front-running performance to run out a six-second winner from the fast finishing Kathy Butler.

Yelling, who celebrated her 34th birthday on Thursday, has won the vast majority of races on the UK circuit but this was her first success at Stormont, bettering her runner-up position behind former World Cross Country champion Worknesh Kidane five years ago.

The British athlete, who has been a wonderful example of consistency throughout her career, opened up a 15m gap from the pursuing Butler and European Junior cross country champion Stephanie Twell after the first of three laps in the 5.6km race.

Yelling continued to pile on the pressure on lap two, opening up a 30m advantage from Butler, a sub 2:30 marathoner, with Ireland’s Deirdre Byrne in close pursuit.

The long-time leader’s victory was never in doubt, although Butler pushed her hard on the last lap and significantly reduced Yelling’s advantage.

Byrne, who was 18th in the European Cross Country Championships last month, secured third spot with the 18-year-old Twell winding up in sixth place.

Yelling was delighted to hang on to the win from the fast-finishing Butler adding: “Thank God it wasn’t any further! It was good. I had flu over Christmas and felt a bit stuffy today.”

Steve Landells for the IAAF

Men -
1. M Kipsiro (UGA) 30:19
2. B Kosgei (KEN) 30:24
3. P Makau (KEN) 31:00
4. M Skinner (GBR) 31:10
5. D Webb (GBR) 31:30
6. L Carey (GBR) 31:51

Women (5.6 km) -
1. H Yelling (GBR) 21:20
2. K Butler (GBR) 21:26
3. D Byrne (IRE) 21:39
4. V Gill (GBR) 21:54
5. L Byrne (IRE) 22:00
6. S Twell (GBR) 22:07

Pages related to this article
DisciplinesCompetitions
Loading...