Atsedu Tesfaye closed his racing year on a high note winning the 57th Sao Silvestre de Luanda in front of over a million spectators who lined the streets of the Angolan capital.
“It was a great race, the time was not the fastest but it was very hot compared with last year,” said the Ethiopian who was runner up to Zerzenay Tadesse last year but from early on left little doubt that he wanted to go one better for the last day of 2012.
“I will definitely be back – this race attracts a high standard of athletes and the crowds encourage us the whole way.”
The gun released over 1000 runners while above the digital thermometer on the office block registered 30 degrees. The 72% humidity made for uncomfortable conditions not only for the runners but also the vast numbers of spectators lining the entire distance from the City Hall to the Stadium at the waterfront.
The large early pack charged up the initial climbs to pass through the first kilometre in two minutes 37 seconds, but the drop and steep gain of over 80m in the next two kilometres saw a few dropping from contention. As the route flattened out it was Kenyan Alex Korio who tested the pace with Tesfaye quick to respond.
The contenders regrouped to pass through 4km in 13:05, which prompted Tesfaye and Korio to drop into another gear.
The duo opened a 15 metre gap, which was never to be challenged, with world junior 10000m champion Yigrem Demelash and Mosinet Bayih, the 2011 Great Ethiopian run winner, the only ones attempting to close the gap.
Tesfaye and Korio shared the workload but shortly before eight kilometres Korio flashed the Ethiopian a telling look, and without further question Tesfaye used the steep decent to the promenade to pull away. A further kick as he hit the flat saw the Ethiopian secure his victory to cross the stadium line in 28 minutes 17 seconds.
Korio was 60 metres adrift, but overjoyed with his performance. “I am ecstatic,” said the 22 year old. “The pace dropped at the top of the climb. I had wanted a fast time so I knew I had to push but only Atsedu came with me. This surprised me; I expected more to come with us. It wasn’t planned to run with him but I’m really happy to come second”
With Demelash withdrawing, Kibet Kosgei’s more conservative early pacing allowed him a strong finish to overhaul Bayih for third place in 28 minutes 31 seconds, 50 metres clear of the Ethiopian.
The quality of the field was such that, despite the adverse weather conditions, seven runners broke 29 minutes and the top 18 were under the 30-minute barrier. The top ten honours were equally shared between Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes.
Victory was more clear-cut in the ladies race where Jeptoo Priscah took the tape in 32 minutes 31 seconds, with Kipkoech Chepkorir and Mercy Jerotich finishing in 32:43 and 32:58 respectively to give the Kenyan women a clean sweep of the podium.
With Alice Mogire filling fourth, Azemra Hagos was the best of the Ethiopians in 33 minutes 16 seconds.
Kenyan Luka Kanda was always going to be celebrating no matter what the outcome of the race. The Rome Marathon winner turns 30 on New Years day, but had the added reward of 14th place in 29 minutes 51 seconds.
The race is the largest and oldest in Angola. With a total purse of over US$145000, US$15000 for first place and awards for the top 20 men and 15 women it is one of the richest and most fiercely contested 10km on the continent. The event has been held every year since its inception in 1954 with the exceptions of 1961 and 1978.
Results:
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
|
1 |
ATSEDU TESGAY TESFAYE | ETIOPIA |
0:28:17 |
|
2 |
ALEX OLOITIPTIP KORIO | Kenia |
0:28:30 |
|
3 |
KIBET STEPHEN KOSGEI | KENIA |
0:28:32 |
|
4 |
MOSINET GEREMEW BAYIH | ETIOPIA |
0:28:42 |
|
5 |
ABRAHAM KIPSIGEI | Kenia |
0:28:48 |
|
6 |
BIRHAN NEBEBEW | ETHIOPIA |
0:28:48 |
|
7 |
PIUS MAIYO KIROP | Kenia |
0:28:56 |
|
8 |
JOSPHAT KIPRONO MENJO | Kenia |
0:29:02 |
|
9 |
TEBALU ZAUDE HEYI | ETIOPIA |
0:29:04 |
|
10 |
FIKADU HAFTU TSADIK | ETIOPIA |
0:29:08 |
|
11 |
ALAN MASAI NDIWA | Kenia |
0:29:17 |
|
12 |
EDWIN KIPYEGO | Kenia |
0:29:22 |
|
13 |
MORRIS MOSIMA | Kenia |
0:29:27 |
|
14 |
LUKA KANDA | Kenia |
0:29:32 |
|
15 |
ADANE AMSALU | ETHIOPIA |
0:29:35 |
|
16 |
ELUID TARUS | Kenia |
0:29:37 |
|
17 |
ANDUALEM BELAY SHIFERAW | ETIOPIA |
0:29:47 |
|
18 |
VICTOR KIMUTAI CHUMO | Kenia |
0:29:59 |
|
19 |
ABRARAW MISGANAW TEGEGNE | ETIOPIA |
0:30:02 |
|
20 |
PHELIMON KIMELI | Kenia |
0:30:04 |
| Women Results | |||
|
1 |
JEPTOO PRISCAH | KENIA |
0:32:31 |
|
2 |
KIPKOECH PASKALIA CHEPKORIR | KENIA |
0:32:44 |
|
3 |
MERCY JEROTICH | Kenia |
0:32:59 |
|
4 |
ALICE KEMUNTO MOGIRE | Kenia |
0:33:06 |
|
5 |
AZEMRA GEBRU HAGOS | ETIOPIA |
0:33:17 |
|
6 |
MEKASHA WAGANESH AMARE | ETIOPIA |
0:33:28 |
|
7 |
PAULINE NJERI KAHENYA | Kenia |
0:33:37 |
|
8 |
MAKIDA ABDELA WORDOFA | ETIOPIA |
0:33:41 |
|
9 |
BUZE DIRIBA KEJELA | ETIOPIA |
0:33:52 |
|
10 |
VICOTY CHEPKIMOI | Kenia |
0:34:03 |
|
11 |
ALEMITU BAMAEA | ETHIOPIA |
0:34:12 |
|
12 |
AYELE TSEGEREDA GIRMA | ETIOPIA |
0:34:16 |
|
13 |
SULE UTURA GEDO | ETIOPIA |
0:34:35 |
|
14 |
HAFTAMNESH TESFAY | ETHIOPIA |
0:34:57 |
|
15 |
JOAN CHELIMO MELLY | Kenia |
0:35:03 |