Tergat heads for Belfast Cross win (© Mark Shearman)
World Marathon recordholder Paul Tergat returned to the city that witnessed the last of his five world cross country victories, running a controlled race to win the - IAAF permit - Belfast International today.
Tergat didn’t hit the front until the closing stages but always seemed in command in his final cross country race of the winter. Having abandoned plans to chase a record sixth World cross title, Tergat was looking to return to winning ways in Belfast before returning to his marathon preparations at a Kenyan training camp.
He sat in throughout as a large leading group stayed intact for the first three of five laps, Italian Umberto Pusterla prominent as were the leading British athletes but it was always the Africans who were expected to control matters when things got serious.
Early into the fourth lap World Half Marathon silver medallist Fabian Joseph of Tanzania began to push the pace, and a trio of Kenyan stars went with him, with Pusterla remaining the best of the Europeans.
Joseph continued to set the pace on the final circuit but Tergat always looked strong and when it came down to the final straight there was only going to be one winner. Tergat eased his way past last year’s fourth placer and his victory was more convincing than the one second margin suggests.
He said: “I always felt controlled and was confident I would win. Last week in Newcastle the conditions were just too muddy and the course was quite twisty, but I found this course to my liking and the surface was much better for running on this week."
Mondor victorious for Canada
The women’s race, for once, did not bring an African victor as Canadian cross country champion Emilie Mondor defeated 65:44 half-marathoner Susan Chepkemei.
Mondor, fourth at Newcastle last week when Chepkemei was among those ahead of her, was always prominent and initiated the break around the halfway stage.
Hayley Yelling, who ran so well in this race last year when she finished second, again set off positively but had no answer as Mondor pushed the pace on the second of two laps. Chepkemei, third a week ago, took up the chase which left Kathy Butler isolated in third, but having a fine run nevertheless.
Chepkemei worked her way back on to the shoulder of Mondor but the Canadian continued to push the pace in a bid to break away again. The longer the final lap went on the more she began to pile on the pressure and it worked as she finally broke the Kenyan and went away for a 12 seconds victory.
She said: “It was tough out there, not because of the mud but the wind, and when I was out in front on my own I got no shelter from it.
“I have to admit I didn’t expect to win but I was feeling so comfortable I decided to push the pace and would rather finish third but trying to force the pace than just sit in and wait. I am feeling confident at the moment, because I know I am in good shape, but to win is an unexpected boost.
“I have not yet decided which race to go for at the World Cross Country Championships, I need to sit down and discuss it with my coach, but I don’t expect to race before then. I fly back to Canada tomorrow and will now concentrate on training.”
One athlete not in Belfast was twice winner Liz McColgan, who had been announced as taking part but instead she stayed in her Scottish homeland and won the East Scotland District Championships today by 55 seconds from fellow British international Angela Mudge.
But there was one McColgan flying the flag. Eldest daughter Eilish won the first race of the day, the under-13 girls.
Men
1 Paul Tergat (KEN) 28:27
2 Fabian Joseph (TAN) 28:28
3 Daniel Gachara (KEN) 28:45
4 Umberto Pusterla (ITA) 28:49
5 Wilberforce Talel (KEN) 28:51
Women
1 Emilie Mondor (CAN) 18:52
2 Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 19:04
3 Kathy Butler (GBR) 19:20
4 Dorcus Inzikuru (UGA) 19:30
5 Hayley Yelling (GBR) 19:30
