Elijah Tirop Serem led a Kenyan quartet to victory and took 20 seconds off the course record to win the men’s title at the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon in the Czech Republic on Saturday. Serem broke away from the leading group with four kilometres left to achieve what he described as the best win of his career in 61:01. Nicholas Kipkemboi finished second in 61:13 and Bernard Bett third in 61:22. The Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
The pace was strong from the start with the
lead group going through 10km in 28:43 and on course to take almost a
minute off the course record of 61:21, set last year by Ethiopia’s
Teshome Mekonen. But the course was testing with frequent short climbs
and a gentle breeze for the evening start in the historic Spa town
gained in strength by mid-race. By 15 km four men were in contention:
Serem and the joint fastest men on the start line, Nicholas Kipkemboi
and Edwin Kiptoo plus Bernard Bett. Kiptoo was the first to falter and
then Elijah Serem, growing in confidence, increased the pressure. “I
thought then it was up to me. We were running to break the course record
and I felt strong,” reflected Elijah Serem. Nicholas Kipkemboi finished
12 seconds adrift and Bernard Bett 21 seconds behind the winner.
Mulu
Seboka won the women’s title, running 69:11 for a personal best and a
course record by six seconds. The prolific marathoner from Ethiopia went
clear at 13 km on an undulating course. Kenya’s Linah Cheruto finished
second with a personal best of 70:22 while Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba
placed third in 70:59.
Seboka’s improvement at half marathon was
long overdue, chiefly because she has concentrated on the full distance
in recent years. That paid off with 2:21:56 for sixth place in Dubai in January and she admitted her marathon strength gave her confidence.
The
Ethiopian broke away from Linah Cheruto of Kenya and Bahrain’s Eunice
Chumba at 13km, running strongly on the long road to the finish. The
margin of victory was over a minute as Seboka finished in 69:11, well
clear of Kenya’s Linah Cheruto who also set a personal best. Eunice
Chumba finished third, almost two minutes behind the winner. Mulu Seboka
will be back on the Czech roads for the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon
on June 20 and is keen to press her claims for marathon selection for Ethiopa at the World Championships in Beijing.
The
half marathon debut of Ireland’s Fionnuala Britton ended in eighth
place in 73:46. Britton’s talent at the distance events has been amply
proven by her two European Cross Country titles but on this exploration
of new territory she was never a threat to the leaders.
Results, Men:
1 Elijah Serem KEN 1:01:01 (Course Record)
2 Nicholas Kipkemboi KEN 1:01:13
3 Bernard Bett KEN 1:01:22
4 Edwin Kiptoo KEN 1:01:31
5 Hailemariam Tesfaye ETH 1:03:47
6 Erick Ndiema KEN 1:03:50
Women:
1 Mulu Seboka ETH 1:09:11 (Course Record)
2 Linah Cheruto KEN 1:10:22
3 Eunice Chumba BAH 1:10:59
4 Lucy Murigi KEN 1:12:06
5 Lucy Llavoga KEN 1:12:38
6 Tsehay Desalegn ETH 1:13:06
For further information online, please go to: www.runczech.com
Photo credit: Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon