Kenya retains men team title as Eritrea and Ethiopia shine
By Chris musumba and IAAF
07/10/2012
Kenya retained the men team title but lost individual gold medal to
Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese in the 20th edition of the World Half Marathon in
Kavarna, Bulgaria.
However, the ability for Kenya to clinch its fifth team title in as many
attempts shows that the country production belt is still churning out
formidable athletes to take on the world champions.
There was no one to deny Tadese his fifth World half Marathon crown as he
made a solo effort after the 15km mark quashing any resistance from his
opponents as he missed dipping under the one-hour mark, but still set a fast
time of 1:00:09.
That might be subjected to the scorching sun, but the Eritrean showed he is
the greatest for the time being over the 21km distance as he maintained his
trademark front running style from the gun to the tape.
Ethiopia's Deressa Chimsa was also strong enough to deny the diminutive
Africa cross Country Champion John Mwangangi the silver. The Ethiopia
clocked 1:00:51.
Mwangangi came in third to pick the bronze medal in 1:01:01 to lead a four
man pack of Kenyans as Pius Maiyo Kirop settled for fourth spot in 1:01:11
ahead of Stephen Kibet (1:01:40) and Eliud Kipchoge (1:01:52).
Kipchoge was making his debut at the championships and it was also the
second time in his career that he was running the 21km distance after his
inaugural run in Lille, France last month.
Tadese, who lost out the title to Kenyan Wilson Kiprop in Nanning, China in
2010, was a deserved winner. He also won the crown from 2006 to 2009.
Only former World marathon record holder Paul Tergat has won the title
twice, in 1999 and 2000. This reaffirms Tadese's pedigree as a legend in the
half marathon distance. Tadese also holds the world record at 58.23, which
he set in Lisbon half marathon race last year.
The women's race was won by Ethiopia's Meseret Hailu who completed her half
marathon debut in a time of one hour 8 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of
compatriot Feyse Tadese, who timed a season's best of 1hr 8mins 56secs.
Kenayns Paskalia Chepkorir Kipkoech 1:09:04 was third ahead of compatriot
Lydia Cheromei 1:09:13. Emebt Etea made sure Ethiopia won the women title
for the third time in the competition history as she came in fifth clocking
1:10:01 while Pauline Njeri was sixth in 1:10:22. Kenya settled for the
silver medal in the women team contest behind Ethiopia with Japan third.
"It was a satisfactory performance. We have dominated this competition for
some time and other teams fought hard trying to edge out Kenya. But the team
did well," said Joseph Kinyua, Athletics Kenya treasurer.
Athletes picked up $30.000 for individual title, $15,000 for silver and
$10,000 for bronze. The fourth placed runner took home $7,000, with $5,000
for fifth and $3,000 for finishing sixth. Team title comes with $15,000
second takes $12,000 while third team has $9,000.
