07.01.2007

Benita second, as Aussie distance runners fly the flag in Spain

Continuing their stellar form overseas, Benita Johnson, Anna Thompson and Andrew Letherby competed in the 53rd Cross Zornotza International in Amorebieta, Spain yesterday (Sunday).  

 

Fine, cool conditions and a soft track greeted Thompson and Johnson as they faced the 6.7km course and the Kenyan onslaught headed by Vivian Cheruiyot, Vernica Nyaruai Wanjiru, Mercy Njoroge and Alice Chelangat.

 

Benita attacked and set the pace early, and by the end of three laps a group of six athletes remained in contention – including the two Australians.

 

When eight minutes ticked over just past the halfway point, Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot made a decisive break with only Johnson able to keep up.

 

The pace proved too much for Kenya’s Alice Chelangat, Veronica Wanjiru and Mercy Njorge along with Nebiat Habtemariam of Eritrea and Australia’s Anna Thompson, who were now well behind the leading duo.

 

There were no major changes in the following kilometres, as the London-based Cheruiyot pushed on hard with the Australian biting at her heels.

 

With 800 metres to go, Cheruiyot put her foot on the pedal and snatched a four-second victory from Johnson, her second on Spanish soil this season after another win at the EAA permit race in Soria.

 

Johnson who won a half marathon in Japan just before Christmas and second place at the San Silvestre Vallecana 10km on New Years Eve had mixed emotions about the race.

“I’m a little bit disappointed as I won here two years ago and it would have been nice to repeat top spot,” Johnson told Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF after the race.

“But on the other hand I’m happy because today has been good preparation for next Saturday’s IAAF permit in Edinburgh. It’s possible that my long distance training for the Marathon is now a handicap for these cross country shorter distances. I’ll miss the world cross in Mombasa to build-up as best as possible for the London Marathon where I’ll be aiming to lower my 2:22.36 clocking from Boston.”

The fight for the minor place on the podium went to Kenya’s reigning World Cross Country junior silver medallist Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru, who kept Australia’s Anna Thompson at bay, 39 and 45 seconds behind Cheruiyot respectively.

Women (6.7Km)
 1. Vivian Cheruiyot (Ken) 21:59
 2. Benita Johnson (Aus) 22:03
 3. Vernica Nyaruai Wanjiru (Ken) 22:38
 4. Anna Thompson  (Aus) 22:44
 5. Nebiat Habtemariam (Eri) 23:02
 6. Mercy Njoroge (Ken) 23:15
 7. Alice Chelangat  (Ken) 23:24
 8. Hayley Yelling (Gbr) 23 48
 9. Zulema Fuentes-Pila (Esp)23:55
10. María Sánchez (Esp) 24:00

 

 

Four athletes were in the hunt for victory with 300m to go in the men’s 10.7km race. In an exciting neck-and-neck battle over the final 200 metres, Kenya’s Micah Kogo captured a thrilling victory outsprinting pre-race favourite Tariku Bekele from Ethiopia in the home straight, with Kenya’s Joseph Ebuya taking the remaining podium place only tenths ahead of Ethiopia’s Abiyote Guta.

 

After a solid start, Australia’s Andrew Letherby was placed from 12th to 16th position for most of the race. After gaining further strength toward the closing stages he began to move up the list and was just outsprinted by Cuthbert Nyasango of Zimbabwe to finish in tenth position.

 

Men (10.7Km)
 1. Micah Kogo (Ken) 32:03
 2. Tariku Bekele (Eth) 32:03
 3. Joseph Ebuya (Ken) 32:04
 4. Abiyote Guta (Eth) 32:04
 5. Moses Masai (Ken) 32:19
 6. Mohamed Farah (Gbr) 32:22
 7. Juan Barrios (Mex) 32:48
 8. Ali Abdallah (Eri) 33:06
 9. Cutbert Nyasango (Zim) 33:26
10. Andrew Letherby (Aus) 33:27

 

Meanwhile the scalp of Craig ‘Buster’ Mottram will be in the sights of Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele when the two clash at the Great Edinburgh International cross-country this Saturday (13 January).

 

In a greatly anticipated duel, Bekele has a score to settle with Mottram after the Australian upset him with a stunning defence of his World Cup 3000m title in September.

 

The 10-time IAAF world cross country champion has been running over 100km a week in the Ethiopian hills overlooking Addis primarily with his younger brother Tariku, the world junior 5,000m record holder, in preparation for the event.

 

Joining the duo around the 9km Holyrood Park course will be Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge who defeated  both Bekele and world 1,500m record holder Hicham El Guerrouj to win the 2003 World Championships 5,000m gold medal. Kipchoge is in outstanding form having won the San Silvestre 10km road race on December 31 in a world-record time of 26:54.In the same race, Mottram set a new Australian record and personal best for 10km on the road finishing 3rd in 27.38.

 

Reigning world short course champion Ethiopian Gelete Burka will return to Edinburgh to defend her 6.2km title in the women’s race. Standing in her way will be former world cross country champion Benita Johnson who will be hungry to cross the line with her arms raised in victory after finishing second in her last two races.

 

Information sourced from Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF and Dave Bullock.

For further media information or to arrange athlete interviews, please contact Athletics Australia Media:

David Culbert

0417 272 641 or david@jumpmedia.com.au

 

Michelle Cook

0430 177 668 or michelle@jumpmedia.com.au