Eritrean Kidane defeats Ebuya in Alcobendasiaaf.org -

All smiles! A big win for Kidane Tadese in Alcobendas (Miguel Alfambra)

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Alcobendas, Spain – Eritrea’s Kidane Tadese produced a major surprise at the 30th ‘Cross Internacional de la Constitución’ on Sunday (4) on the outskirts of Madrid.

Competing in sunny but chilly (9º C) conditions, the 24-year-old emerging star took the better of Kenya’s 2010 World Cross Country champion Joseph Ebuya to clinch a three-second victory from the defending champion Kenyan.

Earlier in the afternoon Priscah Jepleting managed a convincing five-second win ahead of Ethiopia’s Frehiwat Goshu.

Men’s race - Ebuya leads throughout but Kidane proves to be stronger

After his commanding victory last year Ebuya came back to Alcobendas full of confidence following a massive 25-second win from Ethiopia’s reigning World Cross Country champion Imane Merga at the L’acier race in Leffrinckroucke (France) last Sunday (27 Nov.) Meanwhile, Tadese also showed fine form on the Spanish soil of Llodio when he finished runner-up to Leonard Komon on the same day.

The 10,000m contest opened with Ebuya’s early lead while his fellow Kenyan Hosea Macharinyang, Uganda’s Simon Ayeko and Tadese completed the main group.

Some 3000 metres into the race Ayeko began to lose ground and the final podium became clear, with Ebuya always making the pacing duties. By halfway, Macharinyang started to fade and the race turned to the expected two-horse fight between the in-form Ebuya and Tadese.

At the bell (2500 metres remaining) the leading tandem had built a five-second gap on Macharinyang and the sizable crowd assembled already dreamt of a thrilling final sprint but Tadese had very different thoughts and he unleashed a powerful change of rhythm with 1100 to go which Ebuya was unable to cover.

For the last kilometre Tadese managed to keep Ebuya at bay and romped home in 30:10 for the Kenyan’s 30:13 while Macharinyang secured the third spot on the podium 23 seconds behind the victor.

Ebuya’s pace throughout the race was so terrific that the fourth placed Kenya’s Kiprono Menjo crossed the finish line over one minute adrift.

“It’s the first time I managed to beat Ebuya, who is a World Cross Country champion; it makes me to be very satisfied with my performance,” an ecstatic Tadese, who is based part of the year in Madrid, said. “I’ll return to Eritrea in a couple of weeks to train in high altitude there alongside my mate Teklemariam Medhin; he remains in Eritrea because he has not been given the visa to travel abroad yet. I’ll come back to Spain in February and my main goal for the summer will be the London Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m events. I would like to break the 27 minute barrier in the longer distance.”

Jepleting succeeds comfortably

Kenya’s Priscah Jepleting Cherono was the overwhelming favourite in the women’s section and the 31-year-old confirmed her superiority. It was Ethiopia’s 2008 World Junior 3000m bronze medallist Ferhiwot Goshu who ruled the race in the early stages followed by her compatriot Marta Tigabea and a very relaxed Jepleting, a fine 5th at last March’s World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbría.

With nine minutes on the clock Goshu’s pace proved to be too strong for Tigabea and Jepleting reacted immediately to run at Goshu’s shoulder. Early inside the last 2500 circuit Goshu seemed to be able to break away from Jepleting but the Kenyan ran effortlessly, although 10m behind the Ethiopian.

The decisive movement came some 700 metres away from the finish when Jepleting easily overtook Goshu to open a sizeable gap which secured her win. At the tape, the Kenyan was timed at 20:06 for Goshu’s 20:11 while Spain’s Dolores Checa (a 14:46.30 5000m performer) passed Tigabea over the last kilometre to complete a classy podium.

The winner, a more than respectable fourth in the Daegu Worlds in the 10,000m, said, “To be honest, I have had the race under control at any time. I knew I’m in good shape so I didn’t panic when Goshu was running 10 metres ahead of me. I hope to compete at one Cross Country race in Spain in January.”

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF

Leading Results -

MEN (10,100m) -

1. Kidane Tadese (Eritrea) 30:10

2. Joseph Ebuya (Kenya) 30:13

3. Hosea Macharinyang (Kenya) 30:33

4. Kiprono Menjo (Kenya) 31:20

5. Workneh Fikre (Eritrea) 31:26

6. Mohamed Marhum (Spain) 31:30

7. Miguel Ángel Barzola (Argentina) 31:31

8. Iván Fernández (Spain) 31:36

9. James Moiben (Kenya) 31:41

10. Antonio Jiménez (Spain) 31:49

WOMEN (5900m) -

1. Priscah Jepleting Cherono (Kenya) 20:06

2. Frehiwot Goshu (Ethiopia) 20:11

3. Dolores Checa (Spain) 20:18

4. Marta Tigabea (Ethiopia) 20:44

5. Gema Barrachina (Spain) 20:57

6. Alessandra Aguilar (Spain) 20:58

7. Diana Martín (Spain) 21:04

8. Alba García (Spain) 21:13

9. Rehima Jewar (Ethiopia) 21:22

10. Esther Hidalgo (Spain) 21:30

Desisa goes one better in Delhi Half Marathon - The Times of India

Champion Lelisa Desisa (centre) with first runner-up Geoffrey Kipsang (left) and second runner-up Mike Kigen after winning the Delhi Half Marathon 2011 in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Last year's runner-up, Ethiopia'sLelisa Desisa won the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in a sizzling 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday.

He bettered last year's winning time of 59.38. Desisa was followed by Kenya's Geoffrey Kipsang with 59.31 while his compatriot, Mike Kigen took the third place with 59.58.

It was Milton Rotich who led thousands of runners at the 10-km mark in just 28.28. He led the course till Dr Zakir Hussain Marg before a group of 20 similar-looking Kenyans and Ethiopians increased the pace and Rotich fell behind.

At India Gate, the tightly knit group began to split. After a point, the group was reduced to six athletes including Desisa, race favourite and fastest man on the list Sammy Kitwara, Philemon Limo, Geofrrey Kipsang and Dino Sefir.

While coming towards the finish line, Limo and Sefir couldn't keep up the pace. Kitwara too started to trail with 3 kms to go. "The competition was good, I ran my best time. But I am not very happy with the time, I had cold, and could have easily run in 58 minutes," Desisa told TOI. Last year, Desisa had clocked 59min and 39sec.

Kipsang, who lost by just one second, said: "After 15k I pushed hard, and was at par with others. But Desisa sprinted in last 200m; I chased but couldn't catch him." Race favourite Kitwara was certainly not a happy man finishing fifth with one hour and 9 seconds.

Among women, Luch Kabuu of Kenya kept her pre-race promise of winning but missed breaking the meet record by 10 seconds. Kabuu clocked 1:07.04. The record stands at 1:06.54 in the name of Kenya's Mary Keitany which was created in 2009.

Defending champion Aselefch Mergia of Ethiopia, in her fifth appearance in Delhi, led for most part of the race but finished third. Kenya's Sharon Cherop finished just 2 seconds after Kabuu to take the second spot. All three women clocked their best timings.

"I have to thank God for making me strong. I gave my personal best and enjoyed the race as the course was flat and good. We supported each other during the course," Kabuu said in a post race conference.

Kabuu, who took three year's off from running to become a mother and look after the baby, dedicated the win to her family, husband-cum-coach-coach and daughter. Mergia was content with her podium finish, and said: "It was a very good course and I had a good race. I am happy with the time." Impressed with the event, Cherop said she wanted to be back next year. "If they invite me, I'll come again. Now I'll target 2 hours and 20 minutes in full marathon," Cherop said.

Both Desisa and Kabuu pocketed the winner's cheque of $25,000 each. The first and second runner-up in both categories took away $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

The Half marathon was flagged off by sports minister Ajay Maken in the presence of chief minister Sheila Dikshit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Geremew, Afework take surprise Great Ethiopian Run 10km victoriesiaaf.org -

Geremew, Afework take surprise Great Ethiopian Run 10km victories

A big win for Museneh Girimaw at the Great Ethiopian Run(Organisers)

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Mesenet Geremew and Abebech Afework were the deserved winners of the men’s and women’s races respectively in the 2011 CBE Great Ethiopian Run 10km road race in the Ethiopian capital on Sunday (27).

A record 36,000 people competed in the 11th running of the race that brings some of Ethiopia’s young and upcoming running talent to perform on a bigger stage.

Strong final push gives Afework victory

Defending champion and former world junior 5000m champion Sule Utura was the overwhelming favorite coming into the women’s race, but last year’s runner-up Abebech Afework had other ideas coming into the penultimate last 2km of the contest.

The 20-year old, who finished 14th in last year’s World Half Marathon Championships in Nanning, China, and has a personal best of 32:27 for the 10km, took a deserved victory ahead of Marathon runners Tiki Gelana and Atsede Habtamu. It was fourth time lucky for the race winner after finishing eighth in 2009 and second last year, while not managing a top 10 finish in 2008.

Gelana helped set a quick early pace ahead of a large leading group of 18 athletes. The group, which consisted of runners like Utura, Afework, Gelana, and Habtamu, piled on the pace for the first 3km upon which Afework took over the initiative at the front and further whittling down the leading group to just five runners with Utura, Gelana, Etenesh Diro and Hiwot Ayalew able to live with Afework’s adventurous move.

Gelana, Afework, and Ayalew continued to exchange the lead until the halfway point in the race when Diro became the first runner to drop back from the leading group. A kilometre later, Gelana decisively moved to the front in a move that nearly guaranteed her prospects of a top three finish. Her move was too much for Utura who dropped out of the competition at 7km leaving Afework, Habtamu, and Ayalew behind a gallant Gelana.

Despite her best efforts at the head of the four-woman pack, Gelana could not shake off the chasing trio. At the 8km mark, Afework replaced Gelana at the head of the pack, a position which she did not relinquish before crossing the finish line in 32:59. Gelana clocked 33:06 to finish 2nd ahead of Habtamu.

"I did my best to win this race,” Afework said. “It was the fourth time I ran this race and I have been progressing well each time I participated. In my first participation, I finished 13th [2008], then 8th, last year 2nd and now this year I am the winner."

Geremew overcomes stiff challenge of Demelash & Kipkemboi

In contrast to the women’s race; the men’s contest was a tight affair until the waning stages of the race.

As is common with the Great Ethiopian Run, the start of the men’s race was tense with lots of pulling and shoving in the field’s desperate attempt at jostling for positions. The early stages saw as many as 20 runners in a large leading group with virtually no one daring to pile on the pace at the head of the group.

The first signs of a breakaway came just after the halfway point when the large leading group started to wither down in number. Two kilometres later, the field was further reduced to five athletes with newcomers Mesenet Geremew and Yegerem Demelash, shadowing Kenyan Nicholas Kipkemboi at the head of the pack.

In his first competition outside Ethiopia, Kipkemboi gave the Ethiopians quite a run for their money going into the final kilometre, but the young duo edged him across the line with Geremew winning the battle of the young Ethiopians in 28:37 ahead of Demelash who clocked 28:44, three seconds ahead of Kipkemboi. Geremew’s winning celebration was a military salute to the gathered media and spectators, a tribute to his club Amhara Police.

"It is the first time I participated in this race,” said Geremew. “The first 5km had a lot of difficult challenges and there was a lot of pulling and shoving. But after the 5km, every one of us was focused on our race. I am so excited to become the winner of this big race which will encourage me a lot to have a bright future."

Elshadai Negash (with the assistance of Bizuayehu Wagaw) for the IAAF

Leading Results -

Men

1. Musnet Geremew 28:37

2. Yigrem Demelash 28:44

3. Nicholas Kipkemboi 28:47

4. Belete Assefa 28:51

5. Senbetu Mekebo 28:59

6. Berhanu Mekonen 29:12

Women

1. Abebech Afework 32:59

2. Tiki Gelana 33:06

3. Atsede Habtamu 33:12

4. Hiwot Ayalew 33:22

5. Etenesh Diro 33:32

6. Hirut Aga 33:33