Kenyans are known for their long distance running. Or as they say, “we have it on our genes”. Their winning genes were very evident as they dominated the Lavasa Hill run by clinching the top prize in the men’s and women’s 10km endurance in Lavasa on Sunday.
Daniel Cheruiyot Yegon of Kenya won the title in the men’s category with a timing of 31 minutes and 32 seconds while his compatriot Gladys Tarus won the corresponding women’s run in 37 minutes and 24 seconds.
What’s interesting is that that Yegon had won the Bangalore marathon last month and this is his fourth title in long distance races in just 30 days, having also won the 21-km Pune marathon and Goa’s half marathon.
On Sunday, he edged out Ethiopian junior cross country champion Geberesodik Alemayehu and India’s Hawaldar Mansingh. It was the third straight podium finish for Alemayehu, having won the 10km races at the Goa and Bangalore Marathons.
Yegon, who finished second at the Melbourne Half Marathon in October last year, says that his dream “is to win an Olympic medal”.
He said that he wanted to experience the hill run here as “I never tried competing in a hill race”.
His next aim is to win the Mumbai Marathon on January 19 and says that he’s going to attempt the 42km run. He has been running the Mumbai Marathon since 2009.
Asefa Dezabeh from Ethiopia finished second among women run with a timing of 39:00.01s while Swati Haridas Gadhave clinched bronze in 39:14.3s
Results (10km race): Men: 1. Daniel Cheruiyot Yego (Kenya, 31:32.00s); 2. Geberesodik Alemayehu (Ethiopia, 32:19.10s); 3. Hawaldar Mansingh (India; 32:26.20s); Women: 1. Gladys Tarus (Kenya, 37:24.00s); 2. Asefa Dezabeh (Ethiopia, 39:00s); 3. Swati Haridas Gadhave (India, 39:14.3s)
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