Kenyans take on Ethiopians in African battle
A Kenyan wave looks set to sweep the streets of Bangalore when the African powerhouses in distance running clash with their Ethiopian challengers in the TCS World 10K on Sunday.
The two nations have been perennial rivals on the track as well as on the road over the years, jostling for places in the world’s elite competitions. In three years of its existence, the World 10K has witnessed interesting tussles between runners from these two countries, and Sunday’s races will add another chapter to their enchanting and exciting rivalry.
Of course, the elite fields in both the men’s and women’s sections are dominated by Kenyans and Ethiopians. Eleven Kenyans and eight Ethiopians feature in the men’s field of 24, while 11 Ethiopians and four Kenyans figure in the women’s list of 23.
Standing out among men are defending champion Titus Mbishei and his Kenyan compatriot Micah Kogo, while the women’s field has a slightly open look about it, with former champion Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia plotting a return to the top position.
Mbishei became the first Kenyan winner of the Bangalore event last year when he outwitted Ugandan Moses Kipsiro after taking command in the final two kilometres but missed the meet record by three seconds then, clocking 27:54. This time, in familiar conditions, the Kenyan will indeed have the advantage but his task wouldn’t any simpler for that. Lining up against him will be Kogo, who beat him in the only race in which they competed together. Kogo, who held the world record in this event briefly, has the credentials to clinch the top prize of $21,000, having proved his prowess on track as well as on the road in the recent past.
The winner of the 10,000M Olympic bronze medal in 2008, Kogo erased Haile Gebrselassie’s world record of 27:02 by a second in 2009 but Leonard Patrick Komon snatched it away with a 26:44 clocking last year.
“It was a fantastic moment for me when I broke the record. I thought I was great, for I had broken the great Haile Gebrselassie’s record. But a year later, I felt very disappointed when Patrick took it away,” said Kogo on Saturday. “It’s possible to get it back but it takes lot of training and focus.”
The 24-year-old is the fastest in the world this year with a 27:32 but he felt Mbishei will have the advantage of being the defending champion. “Being the defending champ, he will try his best but he will also face some strong challenge. The field looks good,” he said.
The field indeed looks good, and leading the Ethiopian challenge will be Sentayehu Merga, brother of Deriba Merga who won the title two years back. Lilesa Desisa, third in San Juan in 28:02, is another leading Ethiopian here but if Kogo and Mbishei turn on the pace, it could be a swift road to a Kenyan party.
Mergia’s return to fitness is a boost to the Ethiopian quest in the women’s elite race. The winner in the 2009 edition, Mergia was pushed to second spot by compatriot Yimer Wude last year.
Mergia was triumphant in India again when she clinched the New Delhi half-marathon in November, but had fitness concerns since then. “I am fit and fine now and am eager to win the title back,” said the Dubai marathon champion, adding that she expected a strong fight from Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, the New York marathon champion last year.
Another Kenyan, Doris Chepkwemoi Changeywo, is a strong contender as well, with her winning time of 31:26 at Wurzberg in April being the second fastest this year in the world. The 26-year-old has been a globetrotter of sorts, also winning at Paderborn and Marseille before landing in Bangalore, and success here will certainly be the icing on the Kenyan cake.
