EN
In the men’s race, True, 29, became the first American champion since Dathan Ritzenhein in 2007 with a time of 28:13, just edging out defending champion Stephen Sambu of Kenya, who finished second, also in 28:13. 2011 and 2013 New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya finished third in 28:20.
“Sambu and Mutai went right after the four-mile mark, and that’s when I started getting a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to hang on with them,” said True. “But, I told myself going into the race that if I was with them with 8K to go, I’d have a good shot, because I was going to be too stubborn to let them get a away from me with only 2K to go.”
In the women’s race, Chepkirui, 26, successfully defended her title with a time of 32:33, just ahead of second-place finisher Gladys Cherono of Kenya, who also ran a time of 32:33. Gemma Steel of Great Britain finished third in 33:47.
“I am very, very happy to win again,” said Chepkirui. “It is not easy to win a race two times.”
7,885 finishers participated in the 2015 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K. The course began on Central Park’s West Drive near 62nd Street, took one loop of the park, and finished on Central Park’s West Drive at 67th Street.Runners competed for a prize purse of $100,000 with a first place prize of $25,000, the largest winner’s prize in the world for a 10K. The event, sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, benefits the National Kidney Foundation in honor of the late UAE President, Sheikh Zayed.
For the first time, FloSports provided a live stream of the race with 2007 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K champion Ritzenhein co-hosting. Post-race interviews and highlights from the event can be found on FloTrack’s coverage page.
New this year was the Youth Running Series at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, a 1.7-mile race on Central Park’s lower loop for youth runners ages 7 to 18, including kids in NYRR’s Young Runners youth running program. The race started and finished at Central Park’s West Drive near 69th Street. Hundreds of kids participated in three age group races: 7 to 10 years, 11 to 13 years, and 14 to 18 years.
2015 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K
New York, NY, May 30, 2015
Men
1. Ben True, 29, USA 28:13
2. Stephen Sambu, 26, KEN 28:13
3. Geoffrey Mutai, 33, KEN 28:20
Women
1. Joyce Chepkirui, 26, KEN 32:33
2. Gladys Cherono, 32, KEN 32:33
3. Gemma Steel, 29, GBR 33:47
Full results and coverage can be found at www.nyrr.org
RUNNING USA
