© Copyright – 2023 – Athletics Illustrated

Kenyan Sabastian Sawe set a new personal best and ran the fifth-fastest road 10K all-time in winning the Adizero Road to Record 10K on Saturday. The event which included a 5K and half-marathon took place in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The 24-year-old Sawe’s previous pb was 29:54, which he set in 2022 at the same event. Last year, he finished in second place to fellow Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie. In 2023 the finish order was reversed.

Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli finished in third place in the time of 26:54. Current world record holder Rhonex Kipruto was fourth in 27:09 and Levy Kibet was fifth clocking a 27:14 performance. Rhonex set the world record in Valencia in 2020 with his 26:24 performance.

Kandie’s best is from his win in 2022 at 26:50. He was three seconds slower on Saturday.

Kandie and Sawe took the lead during the first kilometre, which they ran in the time of 2:41 (26:30 pace) and then defending champions Kandie took over, leaving the pacemakers behind, as he recorded a 3K split of 8:04 which was 26:50 pace.

The halfway point was reached in 13:27 as the field began to spread, a 2:37 sixth kilometre splitered the top runners into a single-file march toward the finish.

Sawe with legs feeling ready, took over. He gapped his competitors and never gave up the lead.

Kenya’s Irine Jepchumba Kimais also maintained a win streak, taking top spot in the women’s race in a PB of 30:23 as she fought off a challenge from Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay and Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich.

Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich finished fourth place in the time of 30:28 and Ethiopia’s 17-year-old Senayet Getachew set a world U20 best of 30:34 to finish in fifth place.

The 5K race

There was also a 5K race, and in both the men’s and women’s races it went to the wire.

The men’s race was won in the time of 13:06 by Bahrainian athlete Balew Birhanu Yemata. The top-three included Keyelcha Yomif from Ethiopia credited with the same finish time as Yemata. Five seconds back was Kwizera Rodrique of Burundi in 13:11, to set a new national personal best.

It was an Ethiopian sweep in the women’s race as Kumanda Median Eisa from Ethiopia clocked a 14:46 performance for the win. She was followed in by Teferi Senebe and like the men’s race was credited with the same time of 14:46. Gebrzihair Gebru Girmawit took third two seconds back.

There was also a half-marathon. The men’s race was won Bikila Tadese Takele of Ethiopia in 1:00:04. The women’s race was won by Sura Bertukan Welde also of Ethiopia clocking a 1:07:44.

Seven men ran sub 62, while nine women clocked finish times sub-70 minutes.

Results

5km Men

1. Balew Birhanu Yemataw (BHR) – 13:06
2. Keyelcha Yomif (ETH) – 13:06
3. Kwizera Rodrigue (BUR) – 13:11 NR
4. Taye Addisu (ETH) – 13:22
5. Mphahlele Ryan (RSA) – 12:24
6. Awel Muktar Edris (ETH) – 13:27
7. Bett Leonard Kipkemoi (KEN) – 13:33
8. Adisu Chala Wegene (ETH) – 13:34
9. Dangaw Yohanes (ETH) – 13:38
10. Muati Victor Kipkirui (KEN) – 13:41

5km Women

1. Kumanda Median Eisa (ETH) – 14:46
2. Teferi Senebre (ETH) – 14:46
3. Gebrzihair Gebru Girmawit (ETH) – 14:48
4. Alemu Lemlem Nibret (ETH) – 14:57
5. Yaregal Yalegmet (ETH) – 15:01
6. Sharew Melknat Wudu (ETH) – 15:04
7. Chebet Brenda (KEN) – 15:09
8. Bjerkeli Grovdal Karoline (NOR) – 15:09
9. Reh Alina (GER) – 15:26
10. Dagnaw Tinebeb Asres (ETH) – 15:33

10km Men

1. Sawe Sebastian (KEN) – 26:49
2. Kandie Kibiwott (KEN) – 26:53
3. Kipkorir Kimeli Nicholas (KEN) – 26:54
4. Kipruto Rhonex (KEN) – 27:09
5. Kibet Levy (KEN) – 27:14
6. Kiplangat Hosea (KEN) – 27:14
7. Diriba Gemechu Dida (ETH) – 27:16
8. Hayato Yasin Haji (ETH) – 27:20
9. Gebresilase Tadese Worku (ETH) – 27:26
10. Gudeta Chimdesa Debele (ETH) – 27:29

10km Women

1. Kimais Irine Jepchumba (KEN) – 30:23
2. Haiylu Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) – 30:26
3. Ngetich Agnes (KEN) – 30:27
4. Chepngetich Janeth (KEN) – 30:28
5. Getachew Senayet (ETH) – 30:34
6. Kipkemboi Margaret Chelimo (KEN) – 30:38
7. Leleo Veronica (KEN) – 30:53
8. Borura Esther (KEN) – 31:03
9. Chepngeno Cintia (KEN) – 31:11
10. Melly Joan (ROM) – 31:21

Half Marathon Men

1. Bikila Tadese Takele (ETH) – 1:00:04
2. Konga Roncer (KEN) – 1:00:08
3. Chumo Josphat (KEN) – 1:00:08
4. Kimeli Mathew (KEN) – 1:00:16
5. Kimutai Kennedy (KEN) – 1:00:24
6. Mneria Charles (KEN) – 1:00:31
7. Kiptoo Edwin (KEN) – 1:00:37
8. Kitiyo Dennis (KEN) – 1:01:08
9. Kibet Moses (KEN) – 1:01:26
10. Kosgei Jacob (KEN) – 1:01:33

Half Marathon Women

1. Sura Bertukan Welde (ETH) – 1:07:44
2. Tesfay Nigsti Haftu (ETH) – 1:07:44
3. Yami Dera Dida (ETH) – 1:07:47
4. Genaneh Anchinalu Dessie (ETH) – 1:07:59
5. Birle Ayindadis Teshome (ETH) – 1:08:10
6. Mehamed Madina Kadir (ETH) – 1:08:41
7. Kimeli Dorcas Jepchumba (KEN) – 1:09:20
8. Longari Gladys Cherop (KEN) – 1:09:26
9. Tariku Alemitu (ETH) – 1:09:32
10. Durgin Emily (USA) – 1:10:55