Sawe wins but Burundi's Kwizera spoils Kenyan party in men's event
BENGALURU: Rapidly improving marathon runner Tsehay Gemechu made amends for missing the real finish line in 2019 - which saw her slip from first to sixth - as she led an Ethiopian sweep in the Elite women's section in the TCS World 10K Bengaluru here. Kenya's Sabastian Sawe tried to inspire his countrymen to a similar finish in the men's race, but World Athletics Cross Country Tour joint winner Rodrigue Kwizera of Burundi spoiled the Kenyan party by bagging the silver behind Sawe.
As thousands of runners made Sree Kanteerava Stadium the happening place in the city on Sunday, the mood was festive with international event ambassador Sanya Richards-Ross and newly elected state minister and Karnataka Athletics Association president G Parameshwara greeting the runners who celebrated their fitness and charity goals in elite company.
As day broke, most of the Open 10K participants were already back in the stadium after finishing the race that began at 5.30am. Gemechu then led the Elite women. The slight changes in the course saw the runners take two laps in the stadium before heading out on to Kasturba Road.
The leading bunch crossed the 5K mark in 16:15 which was way off the course record pace. "My body didn't respond the way I wanted it at the start. I tried for the record but when I saw the time, around the 8K mark, I knew I was behind. I'm happy that I made amends for my mistake in 2019," said Gemechu, who won in 31 minutes, 38 seconds. Fotyen Tesfaye (31:42) and Dera Dida (31:45) finished second and third in the 15th edition of the race that is now with a World Athletics Gold Label.
Later, the men's race saw a superb finish with the Kwizera holding off Sawe's challenge till the last 500 metres. "I tried my best but couldn't keep him (Sawe) off," Kwizera told reporters. Sawe, meanwhile, was happy that his kick paid off. "I was not sure whether I would be able to win. Luckily, it worked, and I found the strength and got the victory," said the Kenyan, who won in 27:58 seconds, a modest time by his own standards after clocking 26:49s, the fifth fastest all time, last month.
"The conditions were too hot and humid, but we tried our best. First, I pushed a bit, but I saw Kwizera was ahead. Then I saved my energy to try again in the last 500 metres. Fortunately, I got a good finish," Sawe said after the pacer pulled the leading pack to clock 14:20s in the first 5K.
The pace improved to 13:29s in the last 5K which included a downhill in the last two kilometres. Such was the intensity of the battle that speed increased to 2:36s/km (approximately 23kmph) in the last phase which saw the top two being separated by just 0.11 seconds. A triumphant Sawe then looked up into the blue sky and thanked the Trinity. Sawe's teammate Hillary Chepkwoni, making his debut in the 10K, took the third place in 27:59s. Defending champion and course record holder Nicolas Kipkorir settled for the fourth spot in 28:05s.
INDIANS BATTLE TO MAKE AN IMPACT
The depleted Indian line-up, with many top runners busy with their preparations for the Asian Championships and the Asian Games, struggled to keep pace with the African runners who ran a different race from the start. The top Indian, Murli Gavit, was nearly two minutes off the pace set by Sawe among men while in the women's section, young Tamshi Singh ran up a big lead but was still almost three minutes behind the Ethiopians at the finish.
Results (Top 10):
Overall: Men: 1. Sabastian Sawe (Ken, 27:58.24s), 2. Rodrigue Kwizera (Bdi, 27:58.35), 3. Hillary Chepkwoni (Ken, 27:59), 4. Nicholas Kipkorir (Ken, 28:05), 5. Nibret Melak (Eth, 28:13), 6. Milkesa Mengesha (Eth, 28:20), 7. Solomon Berihu (Eth, 28:27), 8. Gemechu Dida (Eth, 28:36), 9. Patrick Mosin (Ken, 28:39), 10. Birhanu Legese (Eth, 28:45).
Women: 1. Tsehay Gemechu (Eth, 31:38), 2. Fotyen Tesfaye (Eth, 31:42), 3. Dera Dida (Eth, 31:45), 4. Jesca Chelangat (Ken, 31:58), 5. Yalemget Mekuriyaw (Eth, 31:59), 6. Evaline Chirchir (Ken, 32:04), 7. Zeineba Yimer (Eth, 32:13), 8. Aminet Ahmed (Eth, 32:17), 9. Vicoty Chepngeno (Ken, 32:23), 10. Faith Chepkoech (Ken, 32:30).
Indian (Top 5) Men: 1. Murli Gavit (29:58s), 2. Harmanjot Singh (29:59.10), 3. Uttam Chand (29:59.24), 4. Gaurav Mathur (29:59.38), 5. Sandeep Kumar (30:03).
Women: 1. Tamshi Singh (34:12s), 2. Poonam Sonune (34:29), 3. Seema (34:30), 4. Preenu Yadav (34;38), 5. Reshma Kevate (34:38).
