Jackson Kirwa Kiprono (4) who edges out James Kosgei (2) in the Corrida di San Geminiano (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Kenyans Jackson Kirwa Kiprono and Helan Kiprop Jelagat took the honours at the 33rd edition of the Corrida di San Geminiano, a 13.35 km road race which takes place every year on 31 January, the feast of the Patron Saint of Modena.
MEN - Kiprono edged out his compatriot James Kosgei in a dramatic sprint crossing the finish-line in 38:13. Kosgei, who made his debut in Europe at the end of January, clinched his third consecutive runner-up spot in three Italian races (Montefortiana Turà, Vittorio Veneto cross country race and Corrida di San Geminiano) finishing second just one second behind Kiprono.
Four African men (James Kosgei, Hillary Kipchumba, Jackson Kirwa from Kenya and Laalami Cherkaoui from Morocco) formed the leading group from the early stage. They passed 5 km in 14:40 and 10 km in 28:51. Kosgei and Kiprono Kirwa pulled clear from the rest of the group in the final kilometres.
Kosgei seemed to have the upper hand when the two Africans launched their attack in the final straight in the Parco Novi Sad but Kiprono, who is also a specialist of the 3000 metres steeplechase, was able to respond with a final sprint into the finish-line which gave him victory.
“I was confident to get the win when I launched my final kick. I liked the course and I thank the organizers. I want to come back to this race next year. Now I am planning to run the Trofeo Sant’Agata in Catania (3 February) and the Italian Club Cross Country Championships in Modena (11 February) in preparation for my debut in a spring marathon”, said Kiprono who hails from Iten in Kenya.
WOMEN - Helan Kiprop Jelagat, who finished runner-up last Sunday in the Vittorio Veneto Cross Country race, won the women’s race in 44:55 beating Italian marathon specialists Gloria Marconi, Rosaria Console and Debora Toniolo who used the Corrida as a test in preparation for a spring marathon.
“I liked the course. I prepared very well for this race in Eldoret”, said Kiprop Jelagat.
Top Italian runner Rosalba Console, winner of the Vienna Marathon in 2004, ran her first race after a training stint in Namibia where she trained in the group led by olympic and european marathon champion Stefano Baldini. “This race was just a test after returning from a very long journey from Namibia. I will return there in March to finish my preparation for next April’s London Marathon”, said Console.
History
Modena celebrated its popular road race which was held for the first time in 1973 thanks to the initiative of Renzo Finelli and Luciano Gigliotti, the Italian “guru” of marathon running who guided Gelindo Bordin and Stefano Baldini to Olympic titles, respectively in 1988 and 2000.
Bordin (1986 and 1987) and Baldini (1996) are among the illustrious names who have won the Corrida, which more recently the race has been dominated by African stars like Benson Barus (2002 and 2004), Rita Jeptoo (2000 and 2001) and Dorcus Inzikuru (2003).
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Results from the Corrida di San Geminiano:
Men (13 km):
1 Jackson Kirwa Kiprono (Kenya) 38:13
2 James Kosgei (Kenya) 38:14
3 Hillary Kipchumba (Kenya) 38:27
4 Laalami Cherkaoui (Morocco) 39:04
5 Daniel Limo Kiprop (Kenya) 39:27
6 Mbarek Mandour (Morocco) 39:34
Women (13 km):
1 Helan Kiprop Jelagat (Kenya) 44:55
2 Gloria Marconi (Italy) 45:06
3 Rosalba Console (Italy) 45:12
4 Debora Toniolo (Italy) 47:17
5 Laura Ricci (Italy) 47:49
