Eyob Gebrehiwet improved his PB by three minutes to win the 32nd edition of the Huawei Venice Marathon in 2:12:16 on Sunday (22), becoming the first Italian man since 1995 to win the IAAF Bronze Label road race.
In what was just his second marathon to date, following a 2:15:39 debut in Florence last year, Gebrehiwet&rsquo;s winning mark is the second-fastest time by an Italian man this year behind Daniele Meucci&rsquo;s 2:10:56 at the World Championships in London.
But the race was not without controversy as Gebrehiwet capitalised on a moment just after the half-way mark when the lead pack of seven men followed the lead motorcycle who had taken a wrong turn.
Having built a lead of almost one minute at half way, reached in 1:05:30, the seven leaders &ndash; Bernard Bett Kiplangat, Moses Kemei Kipngetich, Robert Kiplimo, Abdulah Shami, Mutai Kipkemei, Gilbert Chumba and David Metto Kiprono &ndash; unintentionally ran off course. They later rejoined the race, but at 25 kilometres they trailed the then lead pack &ndash; which had earlier been the chase pack &ndash; by a minute.
Gebrehiwet, Mogos Shumay, Muhammed Mussa and Rodgers Maiyo reached 25 kilometres in 1:18:32. Maiyo then dropped out and Mussa began to struggle, leading Shumay and Gebrehiwet alone in front.
Gebrehiwet then pushed the pace after passing the famous Ponte della Libert&agrave;, reaching the 35-kilometre mark in 1:49.23. By 40 kilometres, reached in 2:05:13, his lead over Mussa had grown to more than two minutes.
The Italian runner of Eritrean origin, who competes for the local Venice Marathon Club, crossed the finish line in Riva dei sette Martiri in 2:12:16 to take the first win of his career after missing this race in 2015 and 2016 due to injury problems. Mussa finshed runner-up in 2:15:14 ahead of Tariq Bamaarouf, who held off Chumba in the final stages of the race.
Gebrehiwet became Italian citizen in October 2015 and was introduced to athletics by Marco Maddalon. He was previously coached by Giancarlo Chittolini (the trainer of 3000m steeplechase Alessandro Lambruschini). He is now trained by Ruggero Pertile, who has recently a coaching career after hanging up his running shoes last year.
&ldquo;On the eve of the race I felt pressure but I managed to stay calm as I knew that I had worked well,&rdquo; said Gebrehiwet, who is coached by Ruggero Pertile, the fourth-place finisher in the marathon at the 2015 IAAF World Championships. &ldquo;Ruggero is not only my coach, but also a good friend. He dedicated a lot of his time to train me. Today he gave me a lot of support along the course.
&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s race shows that the work is paying off,&rdquo; added Gebrehiwet, whose next big goal is the 2018 European Championships. &ldquo;It was not an easy race as I had to run alone on the Ponte della Libert&agrave;. I dedicate the win to myself as I have always believed in my work despite all the difficulties.&rdquo;
Pertile, who retired from international racing last year, was delighted with Gebrehiwet&rsquo;s run. &ldquo;Eyob is a determined athlete,&rdquo; said Pertile. &ldquo;We have set a long-term goal building towards the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. I knew that he felt well. He could have run faster but I am very happy with his race.&rdquo;
<h3>Utara the clear winner</h3>
Misfortune also struck in the women&rsquo;s race as defending champion Priscah Jepleting Cherono suffered from stomach cramps during the race and was unable to mount a challenge to Sule Utura of Ethiopia.
Utura, the 2008 world U20 5000m champion, was joined by Cherono in the first half. They passed through 10 kilometres in 35:02 and 15 kilometres in 52:35, building up a gap of 16 seconds over Aynalem Woldemichael.
The lead duo reached the halfway mark in 1:14:10 and increased their gap to more than five minutes at 25 kilometres. Utura broke away soon after, though, and had a 53-second lead over Cherono by 30 kilometres.
The Ethiopian continued increasing her lead and eventually went on to win in 2:29:04, smashing her PB by five minutes. Despite fading dramatically in the final kilometres, Cherono held on to second place and crossed the line in 2:41:08.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Men 1 Eyob Faniel Gebrehiwet (ITA) 2:12:16 2 Mohammed Mussa (ERI) 2:15:14 3 Tarik Bamaarouf (MAR) 2:16:41
Women 1 Gedo Sule Utura (ETH) 2:29:04 2 Priscah Cherono Jepleting (KEN) 2:41:08 3 Aynalem Woldemichael (ETH) 2:42:12

Eyob Gebrehiwet improved his PB by three minutes to win the 32nd edition of the Huawei Venice Marathon in 2:12:16 on Sunday (22), becoming the first Italian man since 1995 to win the IAAF Bronze Label road race.

Gebrehiwet wins dramatic Venice Marathon

4 December 2012 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Reigning World cross-country champion Imane Merga and the 2012 Real Berlin Marathon winner Aberu Kebede were the winners of the men’s and women’s senior races at the 3rd Ethiopian Clubs Cross-Country Championships held at the Jan Meda race course on Sunday (December 2).Zelalem Bacha and Gotytom Gebreslase took the junior titles in competitive men’s and women’s races as early contenders staked their claim for selection to Ethiopia’s team for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships next year.Merga hangs on to take vital winThere was surprise when defending World cross-country champion Imane Merga trotted on the start line to start the men’s 12km race on Sunday in a race usually positioned for young runners to provide a glimpse of their early-season form.But lining up for his club, Defence, in their bid to win the overall team title, Merga wanted to use the race as a test for his recovery from a spate of injuries that marred his 2012 outdoor track campaign, including missing the 2012 London Olympic Games. He did just that here with a comfortable victory over World marathon bronze medallist Feyisa Lilesa with Gemechu Edao finishing third.“I have been training hard after the track campaign and this proves that I have recovered well,” Merga told reporters after the race. “My aim this season is to defend my title in the World Cross and win a medal in Moscow.”Kebede continues rich vein of formIn the women’s 8km race, Aberu Kebede was even more dominant against the All-African Games 5000m and 10000m champion Sule Utura, whose record at the World Cross Country Championships includes a fourth-place finish in the junior race in Mombasa in 2007.Having won a close battle with Tsegereda Girma in the 2012 CBE Great Ethiopian Run 10km last week and the Real Berlin Marathon in September, Kebede started the race as the hot favourite. She took the lead just after the half-way point and never relinquished it before crossing the line 20:26, six seconds ahead of Utura with Ethiopian-born Bahraini Olympian Shitaye Eshetu finishing third.“I knew Sule was very strong in cross country, but I have been training well,” said Kebede.Elshadai Negash (with the assistance of Bizuayehu Wagaw) for the IAAFLeading resultsMen's senior 12km 1 Imane Merga (Defence) 35:41 2 Feyisa Lilesa (Defence) 36:05 3 Gemechu Edao (Federal police) 36:11Women's senior 8km 1 Aberu Kebede (Federal Prison) 20:26 2 Sule Utura (Defence) 20:32 3 Shitaye Eshetu (BRN) 20:38Men's junior 8km 1 Zelalem Bacha (CBE) 23:31 2 Aweke Ayalew (CBE) 23:45 3 Abere Dres (EEPCO) 23:47Women's junior 6km 1 Gotytom Gebreslase (Mesfin Engineering) 20:26 2 Sara Girmay (Mesfin Engineering) 20:32 3 Alemitu Hawi (CBE) 20:38

Merga and Kebede take the spoils in Ethiopian Clubs XC

4 December 2012 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Reigning World cross-country champion Imane Merga and the 2012 Real Berlin Marathon winner Aberu Kebede were the winners of the men’s and women’s senior races at the 3rd Ethiopian Clubs Cross-Country Championships held at the Jan Meda race course on Sunday (December 2).