9. Bozen/Bolzano\’s New Year\’s Eve run/ITA. Third win for Merga after thrilling final

After an incredibly thrilling 10,000 m race of the men, title holder Imane Merga stood up to world half marathon champion in 2010, Wilson Kiprop by the tiniest of margins with just one millisecond in Bozen/Bolzano's New Year's Eve run. Merga already defeated Olympic champion Mo Farah in Bozen/Bolzano.

The drawn-out finish over 300m was probably the most exciting the BOclassic has ever seen. The Moroccan Aziz Lahbabi, third in the World Junior 5000m Championship in 2010, made for a fast pace and was rewarded with the third place. Merga's winning time: 28:43 minutes. Best non-African was Chris Barnicle (USA) who finished eighth. He came in only one second after the Olympic third of 2008 and fourfold BOclassic winer Edwin Soi.

The Brit Mark Draper finished tenth. 1500m double world champion Maryam Jamal, born Ethiopian but running for Bahrain since 2004, won the 5 km women's run. Vice world champion Gladys Cherono was no match for Jamal on the last 300 m. The winning time of the Olympic third in Loddon: 16:00.The two Ethiopian Afera Godfray and Worknesh Degefa, both of whom won the Corrida de Houilles two days ago, finished third and fourth. 

For the first time since 1998, only Africans stood on the podium of the first three. In the women's valuation, four Africans head the run, in the men's there are even seven.

Never have the Africans been as dominant as in 2013.

However, Kenya has been left behind without a victory since 2006. With the victories of Jamal and Merga, the Africans drew level with Europe.

Both Africa and Europa attained 38 victories in the history of the BOclassic. With the victory of Jamal, Bahrains adds as number 17 of nations winning at the BOclassic. 

ResultsMen (10 km): 1. Imane Merga (Ethiopia) 28:43.8; 2. Wilson Kiprop (Kenya) 28:43.9; 3. Aziz Lahbabi (Morocco) 28:59.5; 4. Jairus Birech (Kenxa) 29:04.1; 5. Leon Ndiema (Kenya) 29:04; 6. Solomon Mutai (Uganda) 29:49; 7. Edwin Soi (Kenya) 30:00; 8. Chris Barnicle (USA) 30:01; 9. Vasyl Matviychuk (Ukraine) 30:09; 10. Mark Draper(Great Britain) 30:12; 1 

Frauen (5 km):1. Maryam Jamal (Bahrein) 16:00; 2. Gladys Cherono (Kenya) 16:01; 3. Afera Godfay (Ethiopia) 16:19; 4. Worhknesh Degefa (Ethiopia) 16:25; 5. Margherita Magnani (Italy) 16:27; 6. Christelle Daunay (France) 16:35; 7. Krisztina Papp (Hungary) 16:36; 8. Giulia Viola (Italy) 16:59; 9. Olha Kotovska (Ukraine) 17:04; 10. Giovanna Epis (Italy) 17:09

Dr. Markus Kaserer

 For complete winner's list check:

Männer: https://services.datasport.com/2013/lauf/boclassic/RANG001.pdf

Frauen: https://services.datasport.com/2013/lauf/boclassic/RANG002.pdf