On a day when no one predicted fast timings, Geoffrey Kamworoor-Kipsang obliterated the six-year-old course record with an excellent 27:44 clocking while Lucy Kabuu led a Kenyan podium sweep in the women’s race, also with a brilliant new time of 31:48, in the 7th edition of TCS World 10K Bangalore.
Pacemaker Daniel Salel, a silver medalist in 10000m at Delhi Commonwealth Games four years ago, led the runners through the first half of the race in 13:57. Defending champion Alex Oloitiptip and his Kenyan teammate Kamworor were in the lead group, as also Ethiopian Kinde Atanaw. Incidentally the Ethiopian has the fastest time of 27:36, which he clocked during his second place finish at Prague last year, among those who took to the starting line in the men’s race today. Atanaw was running alongside Kamworor before the Kenyan break-away after 6 km mark as the runners approached the popular Chinnaswamy Stadium—the Mecca of Cricket followers here.
Elaborating on his run, Kamwaror said, “I had one target when I returned to Bangalore and that was to break the course record. I am thrilled because I have done that today. I won the run because I was well-prepared though the conditions were not easy. I pushed after the 5km mark and did well. I will be back here again!”
Listening to #carllewis spk on stage tonite has been one of the most inspiring pieces i ve ever heard.With the legend pic.twitter.com/uKNIoxU29F
— Neha Dhupia (@NehaDhupia) May 17, 2014
Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, who made his first international debut in Bangalore, came from behind to win in second place 40 seconds after the Kenyan. Usually a cross-country runner who excelled at steeplechase at times, Cheptegei felt the conditions suitable for his maiden appearance here. Atanaw, as in previous years, filled the bronze position for Ethiopia in 28:35. Last year’s winner Oloitiptip, could not overcome the humid weather conditions, finished on sixth.
As in the men’s race pacemaker Beatrice Mutai did the front-running and led a group of 10 women in the race that started at 8:25 a.m. Having performed her duty, Mutai started trailing behind after the 4km mark where Kenyan Joyce Chepkirui emerged as a leader and covered the distance at 12:36. Teammate Lucy Kabuu, former Commonwealth Games gold medalist in 10000m and winner of Airtel Delhi Half-Marathon three years ago, along with Linet Masai joined the fray with Chepkirui in the remaining part of the race.
