http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=29086.html
Sunday 10 April 2005
Milan, Italy - Kenyan Wilson Kebenei Kiprotich won today's 34th
edition of the Stramilano Half Marathon in a new world seasonal best
of 1:00:11**. The women's race saw a victory by Hungary's Aniko
Kalovics who took a gun to tape win in 1:11:57.
The course from Piazza Castello to the famous Arena Civica Gianni
Brera stadium, which since last year was made faster by the organizers
who eliminated an uphill section in the last 2km, produced the three
best times in the world this year.
Tanzania' s John Yuda, who won the Stramilano in 2003, finished
runner-up in 1:00:25. Third was the kenyan Lawrence Kiprotich who
started as a pacemaker but felt well after the 12 km and decided to
finish the race and came in third in 1:00:30. Robert Kipchumba, who
won the 2004 Stramilano in 1:00:22, crossed the finish-line fifth in
1:01:39 behind the young Tanzanian Fabiano Joseph, fourth in 1:01:00.
Men – Decisive attack at 15km
The race started at a very fast pace. Lawrence Kiprotich and last
week's Berlin Half Marathon winner Paul Kimugul and six of the main
contenders like Robert Kipchumba, John Yuda, the two-time World Half
Marathon silver medallist Fabiano Joseph, Wilson Kiprotich and Solomon
Bushendich ran the first 5km in 14:32. After his exertions last week
Kimugul was of course only using the Stramilano as a test and
accomplished his pacemaking task and finished his race after 10km.
Lawrence Kiprotich, Yuda, Wilson Kiprotich and Joseph pushed the pace
and pulled away from the rest of the group by the 13 km point.
Wilson Kiprotich launched his decisive attack at the 15km, producing a
split between 15km and 16km of 2:45. He reached 18km in 51:03, which
indicated a final time of under the 1- hour barrier was in prospect
but Kiprotich slowed down in the last 3 km and any hopes of a sub-1
hour time were dashed in the last kilometre.
The 25 year-old winner who finished third here last year (1:00:28), is
in very good form and is intent on an illustrious Marathon career.
"The weather conditions were perfect and the course was very fast and
flat," confirmed Wilson Kiprotich. "I came here to improve on last
year's third place and possibly to win. I realised that I could win
with 7km to go when I launched my kick. I want to run in the San Diego
(Marathon) in May where I aim at running a 2:09 race. I come from a
village which is located 30km from Eldoret. I have six brothers and
sisters. This year I prepared well with the same group of Martin Lel."
WOMEN – Kalovics unchallenged
In the women's race Hungary's Aniko Kalovics took a gun to tape win in
1:11:57. Kalovics, who competes for the Italian Cover Sportiva Mapei
team, produced her usual front running race from the early stages.
"I wanted to run fast from the first kilometres and stay with a group
of men who could push the pace," confirmed the winner. "Unfortunately,
I had to slow down after the 17km because I felt pain in my knees. The
final time is a bit disappointing for me but I am happy with my first
win in a road race in 2005.'
Kalovics plans a track season in the 5000 metres and the 10,000
metres. "The World Championships in Helsinki and the European Cross
Country Championships in Holland are my next two big goals for the
future."
Vincenza Sicari from Italy finished second in 1:12:39. Sicari, who was
the best Italian in the long course at the IAAF Cross Country
Championships, plans to qualify for this summer's World Championships
at the 10,000 metres.
Away from the Half Marathons the popular non-competitive event of 15km
Fun Run attracted about 50,000 amateur runners who started from Piazza
del Duomo and crossed the finish-line in the Arena Civica.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
** Improves the previous 2005 best time of 1:00:45 set by James
Kwambai at the Roma-Ostia race (27 February). Not counted are the
times on the slightly down-hill course in Lisbon (13 March), which was
won by Paul Tergat (59:10), a race in which today's winner Wilson
Kebenei Kiprotich came third clocking 59:27.
Results from the Stramilano Half Marathon:
Men:
1 Wilson Kebenei Kiprotich (Kenya) 1:00:11
2 John Yuda (Tanzania) 1:00:25
3 Lawrence Kiprotich (Kenya) 1:00:30
4 Fabiano Joseph (Tanzania) 1:01:00
5 Robert Kipchumba (Kenya) 1:01:39
6 Solomon Busendich (Kenya) 1:02:23
7 Salah Hissou (Morocco) 1:02:39
8 Giuliano Battocletti (Italy) 1:02:45
Women:
1 Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 1:11:57
2 Vincenza Sicari (Italy) 1:12:39
3 Ivana Iozzia (Italy) 1:13:43
4 Tiziana Alagia (Italy) 1:14:10
5 Silvia Sommaggio (Italy) 1:14:25
ENDS
