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Kenyans Kibet and Cheruiyot Claim BUPA Great South Run Titles in Portsmouth

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 10:20 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results

Luke Kibet and Rose Cheruiyot added their names to the list of Kenyan’s who have triumphed at past BUPA Great South Runs in Portsmouth on Sunday.

The pair of African stars who despite awfully wet and windy conditions at the south coast venue, both showed their rivals a clean pair of heels in one of the world’s top 10 mile road races.

Neither they or the 18,500 entrants were deterred by the weather and slippery conditions after Portsmouth FC’s goalkeeper David James set them off a scenic journey through the historic naval city.

Kibet after his emphatic World Championships marathon produced another flowing victory emulating the feats of previous Kenyan winners Benson Masya (1995), Christopher Kelong (1997), Simon Kashmir (1999), Simon Kismamili (2002) and last year, Simon Arusei.

Kibet showing no signs of a supposed hamstring injury was always prominent in a four man breakaway field after the first four miles, before taking charge of the race in the last 2 1/2.

After scoring the world championships biggest ever winning margin with his success in Osaka, he sealed victory with his tactical move although immediately suffering afterwards.

“It was really hard after that, the wind off the sea was battering against me and it really, really hurt,” said Kibet who in the circumstances posted an impressive mark of 47min 31sec.

That saw him beat off the challenge of Chema Martinez the Spaniard clocking 47min 50sec and placing runner-up for a second successive year with Jonathan Maiyo of Kenya third, just two seconds behind.

Cheruiyot only the second ever Kenyan women’s victor following in the 1999 footsteps of Esther Kiplagat, easily denied Hayley Yelling and Mara Yamauchi scoring a home victory in succession to Jo Pavey’s win a year ago.

The wife of former World 5000m champion Ismael Kirui, dominating the 10 miles race from to start to finish, won at a canter ahead of Yelling who in a thrilling finish out-sprinted her fellow British international.

Cheruiyot after a disappointing marathon display at the recent World Championships, returned to top form posting an excellent time of 53minutes 44seconds.

“I suffered from the heat and humidity in Osaka but this win shows I’m clearly getting back to my best form,” said Cheruiyot who in Japan, finished six minutes behind ninth placed Yamauchi.

While the African built up a 23 seconds advantage at the halfway point, Yelling and Yamauchi fought a cat and mouth duel until the final 600 metres where their competitiveness erupted.

Yelling made what looked a winning break until Yamauchi pulled her back, but then had to acknowledge defeat when failing to respond to another desperate sustained charge from her rival.

“I could feel her up my backside so I just kept my head down and pushed as hard as I could,” said Yelling after holding on by a second in a time of 54min 12sec.

The former European Cross Country champion, added: “Given the conditions that is a good time and after running well in the Great North Run last month and now this, things seems to be getting better.”

Yamauchi who for the last two years has been the country’s Number One distance runner in the absence of Paula Radcliffe, expressed satisfaction with her showing.

“It’s my first race since the Worlds’ and I’ve been stepping up my endurance and speed work since returning to training,” said the Tokyo-based athlete who lowered her personal best by over one-and-a-half minutes.

Liz Yelling after her outstanding fourth place in the Chicago Marathon three weeks ago, clearly showed she still hadn’t recovered from her tremendous display there.

“I wanted to do well but there was just nothing there - that’s my slowest-ever 10 miler,” said Yelling 11th in 58min 02sec.

RACE RESULTS

Athletics - BUPA Great South Run Portsmouth (10 miles)

Men

1, Luke Kibet (Kenya) 47minutes 31seconds

2, J-M Martinez (Spain) 47:50

3, J Maiyo (Kenya) 47:52

4, Y Asmeron (Eritrea) 47:54

5, W Chinhanhu (Zimbabwe) 48:36

6, F Rey (Spain) 48:38

7, M Geele (GB) 48:41

8, B Kiprop (Uganda) 48:52