Folders |
Edris, Kisa Win Close Battles at BoclassicPublished by
Endris Ends Merga's Streak in Bolzano As Kisa Leads Kenyan 1-2Published by IAAF on December 31, 2014 Ethiopian distance-running star Muktar Edris won a dramatic men’s 10km race at the 40th edition of the Boclassic, edging three-time winner Imane Merga by 0.2 after a close sprint into the finish-line in front of no fewer than 10,000 enthusiastic spectators who packed the beautiful Walther Square in the centre of Bolzano on Wednesday (31). While there was an Ethiopian 1-2 in the men’s race, Kenyan athletes filled the top two spots in the women’s 5km race as African 5000m bronze medallist Janet Kisa finished a second ahead of compatriot Peris Jepchirchir. The men’s race began to heat up at halfway when top Italian runner Stefano La Rosa took the lead ahead of an eight-man group which included Edris, Merga, New Zealand’s Zane Robertson, Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, 2008 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Edwin Soi, former European cross-country champion Andrea Lalli, European marathon champion Daniele Meucci, and Ahmed El Mazoury. The lead pack reached half way in 14:54, after which La Rosa moved to the front. But by the time of the sixth lap, Robertson, who has been living in Kenya for eight years and trains with African runners, was the only non-African runner who managed to keep up with the four favourites: Edris, Merga, Longosiwa and Soi. With a 3:34 split, the five front runners went through the sixth lap in 22:12. Men (10km) Women (5km)
Read the full article at: www.iaaf.org
|
