Kenyan duo rule in humid conditions

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On a sultry Sunday morning as the sun tried hard to break free from the cover of gloomy clouds, two stars emerged and shone bright at the TCS World 10K run.
The jinx of the defending champions continued as the Kenyan duo of Alex Oloitiptip and Gladys Cherono emerged new winners of the event.
Running in contrasting conditions and winning in varied styles, Oloitiptip and Gladys won the race in 28.07 and 32.03 minutes respectively.
Although the course record and the jackpot prize of $7,500 eluded both, they went home richer by $21,000 each. Fellow Kenyan Nicholas Kipkemboi and Ethiopian Brihanu Legese completed the men’s podium, while Ethiopian Guteni Shone and Gladys’ compatriot Esther Chemtai finished second and third among the women.
In a bid to ensure favourable weather conditions for the athletes, the race was advanced by 40 minutes this year, but the overnight rain which brought down the temperature also ensured that the humidity levels went up, which eventually proved a deterrent to the athletes looking to clock better timings.
Like the previous four editions of the run, this year too, past laurels and current form meant little at the finish line.
Oloitiptip, who belongs to the ethnic Masai tribe, did not figure among the pre-race favourites, but that hardly bothered the 22-year-old who surged ahead early in the race.
Oloitiptip, the runner-up last year, entered the stadium for the final 400 metres, running neck-to-neck with Legese followed by Kipkemboi hot on their heels.
But the Air Force corporal, who has been a part of many lion hunts back home, made no mistake as he surged ahead in the final 200 metres to hunt down the coveted title.
Among the Indian athletes, Suresh K. Patel of ONGC (men’s) and Uttar Pradesh’s Sudha Singh (women’s) finished on top.