Benson Barus wins in Sant'Agata race (© Alberto Zorzi)
Though just 24 years of age, Kenya's Benson Barus took another win in a Sicilian race at the 43rd Trofeo Sant'Agata, held yesterday in Catania. Sant'Agata is the saint patron of Catania and the celebration in her honour starts every year on 3 February with this 11,6km road race.
9th major win in Sicily
In Catania Barus has taken his ninth win in a major Sicily's road races. He became famous after winning three times in a row (2000, 2001 and 2002) the Giro of Castelbuono, the oldest race in Italy. He has already won the Trofeo Sant'Agata in 2002 as well, and the road races in Misterbianco (three times) and Piedimonte Etneo.
In Catania last year Barus had been out sprinted by Martin Lel, but not by marathon and half marathon World record holder Paul Tergat, who had to be content with the 3rd place. This year some bureaucratic troubles forced the organizing committee to a low profile race, in which the Kenyan had no strong rivals as in the previous years.
Just pushing in the last lap
Barus decided not to waste too much energy. When 1999 World marathon silver medalist Vincenzo Modica, the favourite home runner, took the lead from the gun and set the pace, he stayed always a step behind, never in the front. Until the last lap, the pace was very flat, as every time lap (1,45km each) was about 4:20-4:25.
When the first three - Barus, Modica and Morocco's Cherkaoui Laalami - entered the last lap, the Kenyan pushed impressively his pace and immediately dropped his rivals. He covered the last lap with a stunning time (3:59), 9 seconds ahead of Laalami and 26 seconds ahead of Modica.
No marathon in the next future
"My plan was to run just this one, to start in the pack and then push in the final," revealed Barus, who has also the 1998 World Junior 10,000m title to his credit. "Everything came very easily, so I'm really satisfied. I'm not even that tired!"
"Now I'm going to go back home, to Naruku. I will compete in the Kenyan Cross Country national championships. Then I will just be training for two months. I will come back in Italy in April; I have already planned some race. Marathon? I think it's too long for me right now. This year I aim to improve my PB at half marathon. I'm sure that I can run close to one hour."
Last year in Udine he ran the distance in 1:01:31.
Alberto Zorzi for the IAAF
Results
Trofeo Sant'agata
1. Benson Barus KEN 34:54
2. Cherkaoui Laalami KEN 35:03
3. Vincenzo Modica ITA 35:20
