By Bob Ramsak
Producing a pair of runaway victories, Zersenay Tadese and Lornah Kiplagat each collected their third consecutive victories at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships today in Rio de Janeiro.
Running in warm conditions, Tadese won handily in 59:56, nearly two minutes ahead of Kenyan Patrick Makau Musyoki (1:01:54), who also finished second a year ago in Udine, Italy.
In full control of the race from the gun, the Kenyan-born Dutchwoman Kiplagat won in 1:08:37, well ahead of Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia (1:09:57).
A step ahead of a nine-woman pack through five kilometers, Kiplagat extended her lead to ten seconds by the tenth kilometer (31:31) and to more than a minute by 15k. Nearly two minutes ahead after 20 kilometers, Kilpagat ran relaxed over the final kilometer, waving to the crowd that lined the city's famous coastline.
Mergia, arrived in Rio de Janeiro with a 1:14:13 career best, held off Kenyan Pamela Chepchumba (1:09:57) who repeated her bronze medal performance of a year ago.
The men's race featured a similar scenario. Leading a 13-man pack through five kilometers in 14:06, Tadese was nearly 30 seconds up on Kenyans Stephen Kibiwott and Makau when he crossed 10 kilometers in 27:55. Never threatened, he upped the pace to lead by more than a minute-and-a-half by 15 km.
Finishing third was Ahmad Hassan Abdallah of Qatar in 1:01:57 with Kibiwott a second back in fourth.
Kenya took the men's team title over Eritrea while Ethiopia prevailed over Kenya to take the women's team honors.
Each of the individual winners took home $30,000 while the winning teams banked $15,000.
After a two year stint as the World Road Running Championships, the event reverted to its original title this year. In 2006, the race distance was 20 km, while last year the half marathon distance was contested.
IAAF / CAIXA World Half Marathon Championships
Rio de Janeiro, BRA, Sunday, October 12, 2008
MEN
1) Zersenay Tadese (ERI), 59:56, $30,000
2) Patrick Makau Musyoki (KEN), 1:01:54, $15,000
3) Ahmad Hassan Abdullah (QAT), 1:01:57, $10,000
4) Stephen Kibiwott (KEN), 1:01:58, $7000
5) Yusei Nakao (JPN), 1:02:05, $5000
6) Diedonne Disi (RWA), 1:03:03, $3000
7) Abebe Dinkesa (ETH), 1:03:04
8) Marilson dos Santos (BRA), 1:03:14
9) Joseph Maregu (KEN), 1:03:32
10) Essa Ismail Rashed (QAT), 1:03:57
U.S.
21) Jason Lehmkuhle (USA / MN), 1:05:17
25) Rod Koborsi (USA / DC), 1:06:46
53) Steve Sundell (USA / CA), 1:08:47
73) Patrick Gildea (USA / TN), 1:14:06
84) Ryan Kirkpatrick (USA / CO), 1:20:50
TEAM
1) Kenya, 3:07:24, $15,000
2) Eritrea, 3:09:40, $12,000
3) Qatar, 3:10:52, $9000
4) Ethiopia, 3:11:47, $7500
5) Brazil, 3:14:07, $6000
7) Japan, 3:15:28, $3000
10) USA, 3:20:50
WOMEN
1) Lornah Kiplagat (NED), 1:08:37, $30,000
2) Aselefech Mergia (ETH), 1:09:57, $15,000
3) Pamela Chepchumba (KEN), 1:10:01, $10,000
4) Genet Getaneh (ETH), 1:10:03, $7000
5) Peninah Arusei (KEN), 1:10:12, $5000
6) Abebu Gelan (ETH), 1:10:59, $3000
7) Julia Mumbi Muraga (KEN), 1:11:11
8) Atsede Habtamu (ETH), 1:11:13
9) Luminita Talpos (ROU), 1:11:16
10) Yukiko Akaba (JPN), 1:11:39
U.S.
21) Melissa White (USA /MI), 1:14:37
24) Dot McMahan (USA / MI), 1:15:14
25) Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle (USA / MN), 1:15:15
27) Stephanie Herbst-Lucke (USA / GA), 1:15:25
30) Jill Steffens (USA / GA), 1:16:02
TEAM
1) Ethiopia, 3:30:59, $15,000
2) Kenya, 3:31:24, $12,000
3) Japan, 3:40:58, $9000
4) USA, 3:45:06, $7500
5) Russia, 3:48:47, $6000
6) Brazil, 3:51:11, $3000
Complete results at: IAAF.org.
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