Chebet impresses with 2:05:27 victory in Rotterdam

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – Kenyans Wilson Chebet and Philes Ongori produced impressive runs to claim victories at the ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on Sunday (10).

Running in sunny and humid conditions and in a two-way battle, Chebet took broke away from compatriot Vincent Kipruto the final stages to win with a fast 2:05:27 career best, the fastest time in the world this year. Ongori made her debut over the distance an auspicious one, clocking 2:24:20 to beat Dutchwoman Hilda Kibet, who reached the finish in 2:24:27, also a personal best.

It seemed that the Rotterdam organizers had made a clever move by insuring a possible World record for USD $350,000, with the hopes for a new World mark in the men's race living on until the 25th kilometer. The "Magnificent Seven", as the first seven on the starting list – Kenyans Kipruto, Eliud Kiptanui, Chebet, Gilbert Kirwa and Ethiopians Feyisa Lilesa, Getu Feleke and Chele Dechasa – were nicknamed, alone with debutante Kenyan Michael Kipyego, went out very fast with six pace makers. The group passed the five-kilometre marker in 14:38, three seconds shy of Haile Gebrselassie's split in the World record he set in Berlin in 2008. Then the pace increased.

The group passed went through the first 10Km in 29:09 four seconds faster than Gebrselassie. At 15Km, they had won 14 seconds (43:49) on the World record splits. Although the group reached 20Km in 58:40, still ten seconds ahead of record pace, it became clear that the pace was too high. By the midway point the leaders had lost two seconds on their tartet with a 1:02:07 split.

Although at 25 kilometers, where the leaders passed in 1:13:42, just one second shy of the world record split, the pace slipped. At 30Km (1:28:42) the leaders were Feleke, Chebet, Kipruto and Dechase with the pace makers Sammy Kitwara and Peter Kirui. In the next five kilometres the Etiopians Feleke and Dechase dropped back. The very strong looking Kitwara led Kipruto and Chebet in 1:43:44 through 35Kms before ending his chores. Kipruto and Chebet now were on their own.

Leading Results:
MEN –
 1. Wilson Chebet                          KEN    2:05:27  PB
   (splits: 14:38-29:09-43:49-58:40-:1:02:07-1:13:42-1:28:41-1:43:44-1:58:47)
 2. Vincent Kipruto                    KEN    2:05:33
 3. Chele Dechasa                    ETH    2:08:47
 4. Elius Kiptanui                       KEN    2:09:08
 5. Alemayehu Shumye             ETH    2:09:36
 6. Michael Kipyego                  KEN    2:11:03
 7. Feyisa Lilesa                       ETH     2:11:42
 8. Koen Raymaekers              NED     2:13:41
 9. Julius Kanghethe Mbugua    KEN     2:14:11
10. Zemiro Zohar                     ISR     2:14:28  PB
11. Gilbert Kirwa                      KEN    2:14:29
12. Miguel Barzola                   ESP    2:15:00
13. Marius Ionescu                  ROU    2:16:11  PB
14. Brihun Weva                      ISR      2:17:17
15. Sean Conolly                     IRE      2:17:23
16. Jaume Leiva                      ESP     2:17:57
17. Ruben Sanca                     USA     2:18:47
18. Seteng Ayale                     ISR      2:19:32
19. Ivan Galan                        ESP     2:20:27  PB
20. Pablo Lopez Sanchez          ESP     2:20:58
 
WOMEN –
 1. Phils Ongori                                KEN    2:24:20  debut
 2. Hilda Kibet                          NED   2:24:27  PB
 3. Lishan Dula                         BHR   2:26:56  PB
 4. Alessandra Aguilar               ESP   2:27:00  PB
 5. Rita Jeptoo                         KEN   2:28:09
 6. Shetaye Bedasa                  ETH    2:29:52
 7. Maria Jose Pueyo                ESP   2:34:52
 8. Xenia Luxem                      BEL    2:35:48   PB
 9. Christina Bus Holth              NOR   2:37:12   PB
10. Lindsay van Marrewijk          NED    2:37:40   PB
11. Irene Limika                      KEN    2:38:53
12. Raquel Maraviglia              ???      2:41:23
13. Kelly Calway                       USA    2:44:47
14. Johanna Kykyri                   FIN      2:46:27  
15. Loretta Kilmer                    USA     2:46:27 correct