Posted: October 8, 2006

Athletics: Commanding Win For Tadesse At World Road Running Championships

From Bob Ramsak

© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

Zersenay Tadesse, the reigning Olympic bronze medallist in the 10,000 meters, took a commanding win at the 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships today in Debrecen, Hungary. The 24-year-old cruised to a 56:01 clocking over the 20 km course, well ahead of Kenyan Robert Kipchumba's 56:41 to claim the first global title for Eritrea. His performance was the second fastest ever over the distance, behind Haile Gebrselassies's en route performance of 55:48 at last January's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in Phoenix, Az. Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei was third in 57:15 to secure the team victory for Kenya over Eritrea and Ethiopia. American Ryan Hall finished 11th in 57:54, bettering the U.S. record of 58:42 set by Abdi Abdhirahman at the NewAlliance New Haven Road Race in September 2005. Last month, Hall, this year's national long course cross country champion, made his debut over the distance at the New Haven race, winning the national title in 59:29.

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