Cheruiyot and Merga grind out close victories in Bozen/Bolzano's New Year's Eve Run

Submitted by Yomi Omogbeja on 31 December 2010 - 6:47pm

The 36th edition of the BOclassic, Bozen/Bolzano's international New Year's Eve Run was dominated by Africans with the two world best runners Vivian Cheruiyot and Imane Merga snatching close victories.

The World's 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot from Kenya edged a close 5k in 15:52 ahead of defending champion Gedo Sule Utura of Ethiopia (15:52). Kenyan Prisca Jepleting Cherono (15:59) was third.

Cheruiyot said after the race: "I am so happy about the victory. I wanted to do a good job! It's so good that I won! It was not easy because of the could.

"I mostly felt it when the speed got faster. And Utura was a very strong rival."

Photo finish

In men´s 10K race, Diamond League winner Imane Merga clocked 28:32 to win over Somali-born Briton, Mo Farah (28:32, the difference 0.2) while defending champion, Edwin Soi of Kenya was third (28:41).

Another Kenyan Silas Kipruto was fourth (29:15) ahead of American Scott Bauhs (29:16) and Italian Andrea Lalli (29:21).

"Last year, I committed a tactical mistake because I started the run too slow," said a relieved Merga.

"I learnt from last year's experience. I came here to win, and to crown a great season. I am so happy that I won! This is a great end of the year. The audience was again great and supported us from the beginning to the end."

Around 15,000 spectators bordered the 1.25 km long track of the allegedly best cast new Year's eve run.

The victories of Cheruiyot and Merga were successes number 31 and 32 for the Afican running wonders in Bozen/Bolzano.

Selected Results

Men (10 km):

  1. Imane Merga (ETH ) 28:32.6;
  2. Mohamed Farah (GBR) 28:32.8;
  3. Edwin Soi (KEN) 28:41.6; 
  4. Silas Kipruto (KEN) 29:15.0; 
  5. Scott Bauhs (USA) 29:16.1; 
  6. Andrea Lalli (ITA) 29:21.5; 
  7. Ahmed El Mazoury (ITA) 29:52.1; 
  8. Vasily Matvichuk (UKR) 29:56.0; 
  9. Giovanni Gualdi (ITA) 29:56.5; 
  10. Serhiy Lebid (UKR) 30:04.1.

 

Women (5 km):

  1. Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 15:52.7; 
  2. Gedo Sule Utura (ETH) 15:52,8; 
  3. Priscah Jepleting Cherono (KEN) 15:59.6; 
  4. Aniko Kalovics (HUN ) 16:17.2; 
  5. Ana Dias (POR) 16:20.6; 
  6. Christelle Daunay (FRA ) 16:24.5; 
  7. Silvia Weissteiner (ITA) 16:45.9; 
  8. Sonja Roman (SLO) 16:49.4; 
  9. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler (ITA) 17:03.3.

 

Click for the 2010 BOclassics Full results.

World