The O2 Prague Grand Prix sees personal records under 28 minutes for the first three men past the finish and Kreisinger triumph as top of the Czechs

A new course and close to new race records at the O₂  Prague Grand Prix, 10 k course which moved from Old Town Square to Můstek boasting a pulsating spectacle for all to see and  an unrivalled atmosphere.  

A total of 5 300 runners flocked to the illuminated city streets to take on the METRO 10K race with a further 1 200 turning up to run the adidas Women's Race 5 km.

Kenyan runner, Daniel Chebii notched up yet another victory in the RunCzech Running League rankings. After delivering an exquisite performance at last year's Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon, he proved his skills once again with a win at the prestigious Prague course, also smashing is personal best time! The runner finished only one hundredth of a second away from breaking the race record leaving the fight to beat Ethiopian runner, Kinde Atanawa right till the end. Third place went to his Kenyan compatriot, Julius Lomerinyang.

"It was really tough and I'm pleased to have done it in under twenty eight minutes.  I still couldn't believe it as I crossed the finish," Chebii said. "I ran to the best of my ability and that was my result. I really couldn't do any better," the Ethiopian finishing second place commented with a shrug of the shoulders. "Perhaps I could have pushed myself a bit further but it's too late to say that now," third place holder, Lomerinyang expressed with a chuckle.

When it came to the ladies, it was touch and go right till the end between the two top Kenyan distance runners as to who would be standing top of the podium. At 32:00 it was Josephine Chepkoech who set the basic best time on the new women's course which also earned her a new personal record. "It was a really fast race, the fastest in my life for me so far," the winner revealed, clearly delighted with the result.

Number one favourite, Emily Chebet, who recently secured herself fourth place in the 10 000 metre race at year's Wold Championships in Moscow, was only a few steps behind her.

The only European runner to stick with the African stars was British runner, Gemma Steel who ended up finishing third with a time of 32:08.

 "Running a night-time race was something completely new for me but it worked out pretty well," the British athlete revealed. "It's also possible to beat African runners; there's nothing for me to fear. t       You can run with them and after that it's all about luck."

The two winners will be sticking around to take part in next Sunday's Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon both of whom feel more comfortable running on longer courses.

Emerging victorious from the triple battle between the Czech distance stars was Jan Kreisinger (30:16). "Fantastic, I feel like I did after the Prague marathon last year," the runner said, reminding us of his historical performance which earned him a place at the London Olympics. The Brno-based pair, Czech champion in the 10 000 metres, Milan Kocourek and marathon champion, Jiří Homoláč followed shortly behind him.

 "I was keeping an eye on both of them, time-keeping was secondary.  I've been planning to run well since May and it paid off," a pleased Kreisinger revealed. I like the atmosphere here, and shifting the start of the race back an hour also helped, you could see better. The course was also faster than the original one," he added.

When it came to the ladies, the 18-year old good all-rounder Anežka Drahotová finished ahead of her fellow compatriots by almost one minute as the clear winner (33:59). The runner recently completed the 20 km walking race at the Moscow World Championships seventh place, while here in Prague managed to improve her personal best time by a minute and a half.

 "I assumed I would be able to run better than at last year's at hilly Běchovice race where I earned my best time. Once I passed Petra (Kamínková), I just focused on myself. I'm still thinking about whether to devote more time to walking where I have more chance of success, or just focus on running where the atmosphere around you tends to be better," the Czech Marathon Hopes project member remarked.

The O₂ Prague Grand Prix- METRO 10K race:

Men: 1. Chebii (Kenya) 27:35, 2. Atanaw (Ethiopia) -1, 3. Lomerinyang -7, 4. Kipsang -28, 5. K. Limo -49, 6. Bor (all from Kenya) -1:02,… 13. Kreisinger 30:16, 15. Kocourek 30:31, 16. Homoláč (all from the Czech Republic) 30:39.

Women: 1. Chepkoech 32:00, 2. Chebet (both from Kenya) -1, 3. Steel (GB) -8, 4. Chemtai -48, 5. Chepngeno (both from Kenya) -49, 6. Popkova (Russia) -53,… 15. A. Drahotová 33:59, 18. Kamínková 34:51, 20. Sekanová (all from the Czech Republic) 35:13

 

Tomáš Nohejl

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