Gladys Chesire wins the Asics Grand 10 Berlin (© Berlin Runs / Thomas Wenning)
Despite windy conditions, Kenya’s Gladys Chesire clocked a world-leading 10km time of 30:41 at the Asics Grand 10 Berlin on Sunday (11), becoming the ninth-fastest woman ever at this distance.
She was followed by fellow Kenyan Alice Nawonuna and Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede, who ran world-class times of 31:02 and 31:11 respectively.
In the men’s race, world junior champion Joshua Cheptegei broke the Ugandan record with 27:50. Kenya’s Philemon Cheboi and Ethiopia’s Abayneh Degu Tsehay were second and third, both given the same time of 28:05.
Chesire’s victory continues the trend of the women’s race upstaging the men’s at this event, following Joyce Chepkirui’s 20:37 and 31:02 victories in 2013 and 2014.
The 22-year-old Chesire, who took silver in the 10,000m at the All-African Games last month, set out fast and was sheltered from the winds better than most, as she was in the middle of a handful of male runners.
Satume Asefa Kebede was right behind Chesire during the first three kilometres, but the Ethiopian then lost contact. Chesire passed the half-way mark in 15:30 and continued to run hard.
With some backwind stretches during the latter part of the race, Chesire covered the second half in 15:11 to cross the line in 30:41, just four seconds shy of Chepkirui’s course record.
Chesire took 14 seconds off the world-leading mark set recently by fellow Kenyan Peres Chepchirchir.
“I am very happy with my time. Without the wind I probably could have run a little bit faster,” said the 2010 Youth Olympic Games 3000m champion, whose next race will be the New Delhi Half Marathon at the end of November. “If possible I would then like to run the World Half Marathon Championships next spring.”
Teenager kicks away to win
A group of six runners, including a pacemaker, formed the leading group during the first half of the men’s race. They passed 5km in 14:21 and then entered a section of the course that takes the runners through the Berlin Zoo. It was there where the pacemaker dropped back and the race became significantly faster.
While the group stretched, 19-year-old Joshua Cheptegei pushed the pace. Shortly after the 7km mark the Ugandan had a clear lead.
On the fast Berlin roads, Cheptegei improved his personal best of 28:24 by more than half a minute and broke Moses Kipsiro’s national record by two seconds. He covered the second half in 13:29 to win in 27:50 from Philemon Cheboi and Abayneh Degu Tsehay.
For the second year in succession, Germany’s Arne Gabius finished fourth with a PB. This time he clocked 28:07, one second faster than his time from last year, and just edged out Kenya’s John Langat by one second.
“I am ready for the Frankfurt Marathon,” said Gabius, who later this month hopes to break the 27-year-old German record of 2:08:47 set by Jorg Peter.
On his road-racing debut, world-class steeplechaser Paul Kipsiele Koech finished sixth in 28:25.
Organisers for the IAAF
