From: Er-News (er_news@dehai.org)
Date: Sun Oct 11 2009 - 10:24:00 EDT
Tadese wins fourth-straight half marathon
Eurosport - Sun, 11 Oct 11:56:00 2009
Buzz Up!
Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese secured his place in the pantheon of
distance running as he won his fourth consecutive IAAF World Half
Marathon title in Birmingham.
2009 Zersenay Tadese -
Tadese produced a run of trademark tactical brilliance, controlling
the pace early on before slamming down the accelerator to break the
resolve of his rivals after 13km.
His winning time of 59 minutes and 35 seconds rewrote his own
championship record and the former world cross country champion - who
won 10,000m silver at the World Championships in Berlin earlier this
year - insists he is now ready to make the step up to full marathons.
He made his debut over the 26-mile distance in London earlier this
year but dropped out, raising question marks about his long-stated
ambition over the distance.
Kenya's Bernard Kiprop Kipyego sprinted clear of American Dathan
Ritzenheim to claim silver, while he also helped his country take the
team title.
But Ritzenheim was delighted with bronze the first American athlete
to make the podium at the World Half Marathon Championships.
Scotland's Andrew Lemoncello, the former British steeplechase
champion, was the top home finisher as he continued his transition
from track to road.
The Colarado-based athlete finished in one hour, three minutes and
three seconds to place 26th while Great Britain's team finished a
disappointing 14th, when they had been looking for a place in the top
eight.
Kenya's Mary Jepkosgei Keitany produced a dominant display to claim
the women's race.
Keitany clearly found the course and light drizzle to her liking as
she stayed ahead of world record pace, averaging just over three
minutes per kilometre.
But she slowed slightly in the closing stages, narrowly missing out
on Lornah Kiplagat's world record as she gleefully upgraded the
silver medal she won in Udine two years ago.
However, her time of one hour, six minutes and 36 seconds shattered
her personal best by 12 seconds, as the 27-year old finally fulfilled
her long predicted promise.
It was an impressive lone running performance and it's just a matter
of conjecture how three-time winner Kiplagat and Great Britain's
Paula Radcliffe would have fared, had they not been sidelined through
injury and illness.
Athletes from the dominant Kenyan and Ethiopian teams sprung off the
start-line and had opened up an decisive advantage over their rivals
by the end of the first mile.
With the opening miles downhill, the pace was stiff and the leading
group fractured again when Keitany and Ethiopian youngster Aberu
Kebebe kicked clear.
Keitany then stamped down her authority on an uphill section of the
course and had opened up a 40 second advantage over Kebebe by 15km.
Philes Moora Ongori overhauled Kebebe in the closing metres to take
individual silver, a performance that helped Kenya comprehensively
secure the team title.
Claire Hallisey was the top British finisher in 25th place, crossing
the line in one hour, 12 minutes and 14 seconds, a time that was just
outside the personal best she set in Bristol last month.
More than the Games / Eurosport
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