Kogo, Changeywo top billing for Bangalore World 10K/India – By Ram. Murali Krishnan

Micah Kogo Kemboi won in Brunssum, Netherlands, with a time of 27:15 on April 3 while Doris Changeywo clocked 31:26 when taking the title in Wurzburg, Germany two weeks later. Kogo, the Beijing Olympic bronze medallist in 10,000m, briefly held the global mark when he won the Parelloop 10km in 27:01 at Brunssum two years ago.  Changeywo was a silver medallist in last year’s Commonwealth Games at the Indian capital New Delhi, finishing behind country-mate Grace Momanyi in 10,000m.

From the land of “K” word, defending champion Titus Mbishei returns to Bangalore for another win.  Having improved his personal best timing to 27:32, hardly a month ago at Marseille, Mbishei is looking for a keen contest to better the course record of 27:51 held by Eritrean Zersenay Tadese from the inaugural edition in 2008.  His teammate Philemon Limo, who clocked 27:35 for a second place finish in Marseille, along with Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa—the winner of last year’s Peachtree race in Atlanta with a PB of 27:58—are ready to provide the required challenge.

Nicholas Kamakya, the runner-up in this year’s Los Angeles marathon, also sets his foot on Sunday’s race.  The Kenyan’s best in 10K was set seven years ago when he won at Morlaix in 27:36.  He last run the distance only three years ago and sees the Bangalore race as a potential head-starter for his Olympic preparations.    

Mergia aiming to regain lost honour

Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia had a near miss last year as teammate Ayalew Wude Yimer prevented her in defending the tile in Bangalore.  Wude was two seconds faster when Mergia registered her career best 32:00 and saw that the title slipped away just few meters to go.  The women’s race here always had a vibrant list of world class runners, right from the inaugural edition.  Half-marathon world champion Grace Momanyi made the spoils with Olympian Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey in 2008.  Mergia was just few seconds away from the course record when taking the 2009 edition.  Finally Yimer Wude breaks it in 2010 posting 31:58.  There are at least five runners entered the fray this year with a time which is better than the course record.

Kenyan Doris Changeywo will be the main challenger for Mergia this time.  Hilda Kibet, now running under Netherlands flag, had the best of 31:01 from 2008.  Mergia’s training partner Belaynesh Oljira ran a national record 31:07 at Marseille in 2010.  The line-up also includes former half-marathon world silver medalist Dire Tune performed 31:25 for her fifth place at Peachtree race last summer.  Another world silver medalist in the same distance in 2009, Fyles Ongori of Kenya, also entered with 31:33 which came from Tsukuba three years ago to make the scene interesting.        

Indians field strong runners

Unlike in the past, when there used to be a big margin between the foreign elite athletes and of those represented the host nation, this year’s Indian elite field includes some strong contenders.  Kavita Raut, multiple medalist in the continental Asian Games and Commonwealth Games last year, spearheading the Indian challenge this year.  Raut’s best 10K mark of 32:54 was set in Kolkata two years ago.  However she clocked an impressive 31:51.44 while taking the silver medalist behind teammate Preeja Sreedharn in the Asian Games at Guangzhou last year.  She also garnered a bronze in the Commonwealth Games behind Kenyans Momanyi and Changeywo in front of a delightful home-crowd in Delhi.

Another athlete to watch was Asian steeplechase champion Sudha Singh.  Local star Preeti Lakshmi Rao, two-times winner in Indian category in 2008 and 2010, is familiar with the Bangalore roads and is ready for another assault to grab the increased prize money.  The organizers award separate prize money for both international and national elite category winners to promote the sport.

Among the men, Indrajeet Patel, national youth champion and runner-up in Hyderabad 10K is confident of improving his timing and to give his senior colleagues a run for their money!

Dita to inspire youngsters

Olympic marathon champion Constantina Tomescu Dita, who at the age of 38 stunned the world by taking the gold at Beijing, is the brand ambassador for Bangalore World 10K this year.  Aiming to run the London Olympics next year at 42, the Romanian is here to promote the event and to inspire many youngsters to pursue the sport.  

“I have got inspired when my country-woman Maricica Puica won the Olympic gold in 3000m at Los Angeles when I was just 14 in 1984.  So I would like to spread the word and bring-in many youngsters to take-up the sport, especially in India” was what the Champion-Ambassador voiced during the “meet and greet” session on Thursday.

This year’s race is being sponsored by the title sponsor Tata Consultancy Services along with United Nations Environmental Programme.   Bangalore is popularly known as a blossom city for its green environment surrounded by large number of trees.

Ram. Murali Krishnan