Post Apartments Invitational 8000 Challenge Race Report

The Post Apartment Invitational 8000 WR Challenge lived up to most expectations as Kenyan's Wilson Kiprotich and Rose Kosgei won rather easily in fast times. In almost perfect running conditions for the peoples' Borden Uptown 5000 with cloudless azure skies and a very comfortable 12C/54F. The race had to be pushed back an extra 15 minutes as many tried to take advantage of the wonderful running conditions in downtown Dallas.

The Invitational woman started 3 and half minutes earlier then the men's elite event. Kosgei, the former World Junior Cross Country Champion led the ladies in the first mile pulling along Tatyana Chulak(RUS), Polish champion, Dorota Gruca(POL), Margaret Chirchir(KEN), Leah Kiprono(KEN) and Canadian, Lioudmila Kortugaina who will attempt to make the Canadian Olympic Marathon tean at the upcoming ING/Ottawa Marathon.

Upon reaching the first mile with a slower than expected, Kosgei was off on a time trial as the others tried to maintain her quicking pace. She passed 5km in around 16.00 on her way to a 39 second win over Gruca in 26.20. “I am very pleased to win”, exclaimed Kosgei who had won the Dallas Half Marathon back in December. She returned to Kenya to prepare for the 2008 Kenyan Cross Country Trials, but with all of the violence around her home and training base in Iten, she was forced to stop training for almost 3 weeks.

Having won the World Cross Country Chamipionship, she had hoped to make the Kenyan team this year, but didn't even attempt to go to Nairobi with all of violence and her lack of training. She trains with her brother and her husband, Robert. Since giving birth to her son, Angelo, an Italian name for her win at the World Cross Country in Turin, she has feft much stronger and expects to have a fantastic year.

The men's invitation field has always had good WR attempts in the Post Apartment 8000 Challenge, and Wilson Kiprotich was going for the record and the bonus money. Kiprotich blasted off the start line and only Haron Lagat(KEN), Richard Kipligat(KEN) and Lamech Mokono(KEN) could try and maintain his furious start. Kiprotich had dissembled the field just prior to crossing the 5km split in 13.43.

“I was feeling good and running well, but the wind was too much to break the record today”, said Kiprotich after the finish. He slowed down a bit to break the tape in 22.18, only 6 seconds off Sammy Kipketer 2006 course record, but Kiprotich and Kosgei because of their front running also picked up an additional $1,000 dollar bonus for the 6km prime which coincedentally is where Kiprotich passed Kosgei.

Victah Sailer

1. Wilson Kiprotich (KEN) 22.18
2. Haron Lagat (KEN) 22.33
3. Richard Kipligat (KEN) 22.49
4. Lamech Mokono (KEN) 22.59

1. Rose Kosgei (KEN) 26.20
2. Dorota Gruca (POL) 26.59
3. Margaret Chirchir (KEN) 27.13
4. Tatyana Chulakh (RUS) 27.33
5. Leah Kiprono (KEN) 27.38