Aniko Kalovics wins the Udine Half Marathon (© Federico Grattoni)
Kenyan Evans Cheruyot crossed won the seventh edition of the Udine Half Marathon, yesterday (24), the town which will host next year’s IAAF World Road Running Championships on 14 October 2007.
Winning the women’s race was Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics, who will be the main home challenger for honours at this year’s inaugural edition of the World Road Running Championships which takes place in Debrecen, Hungary on 8 October.
MEN
Cheruyot ran yesterday’s half marathon distance in 60:18, in a desperately close finish just holding off 2004 World Half Marathon champion Paul Kirui who clocked the same time as Cheruyot. Third was William Todoo with 60:33. Kenya placed eight athletes in the top eight.
28-year-old Cheruyot broke the 60 minutes barrier earlier this year when he finished second in the Berlin Half Marathon in 59:29. He also finished runner-up in the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon in 1:00:14.
“I am very happy with my win in Udine on a flat and fast course”, said Cheruyot. “Unfortunately I did not break the 60 minutes barrier, but I hope to do better in the next races. I want to come back next year to Udine for the World Road Running Championships (in 2007). It’s a very competitive course. Local people are very friendly and the organization is very good”, said Cheruyot.
Pre-event favourite Felix Limo, winner of the 2006 London Marathon, finished a distant eighth in 63:27. “I could not do my best because my shape was not so good. Last week I suffered from fever and this affected my performance today”, said Limo.
The first Italian home was Francesco Ingargiola who finished ninth in 64:44. Ingargiola, who was a good fifth in the marathon at the European Championships in Gothenburg, beat Olympic Games ninth placer Alberico Di Cecco (64:46).
WOMEN
The women’s race was an entirely European affair which saw Hungary’s Aniko Kalovics winning in 70:30 ahead of Italian Rosaria Console (71:54) and another Hungarian Simone Staicu (74:02).
Kalovics managed to win despite stomach cramps during the race. “Udine is one of my favourite races and I will return here in the future.”
Kalovics will run the World Road Running Championships on 8 October in Debrecen (Hungary) one week before her possible debut in the marathon at the Maratona d’Italia Memorial Enzo Ferrari in Carpi.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Results
Men:
1 Evans Cheruyot (Kenya) 60:18
2 Paul Kirui (Kenya) 60:18
3 William Todoo (Kenya) 60:33
4 Jonathan Kosgei (Kenya) 60:47
5 Charles Kamathi (Kenya) 61:17
6 James Rotich (Kenya) 62:23
7 William Kipsang (Kenya) 63:21
8 Felix Limo (Kenya) 63:28
9 Francesco Ingargiola (Italy) 64:42
10 Alberico Di Cecco (Italy) 64:46
Women:
1 Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 70:30
2 Rosaria Console (Italy) 71:54
3 Simone Staicu (Romania) 74:02
4 Vincenza Sicari (Italy) 74:29
5 Fatna Maraoui (Italy) 74:55
