Andreas Almgren wins the Valencia 10k (© Martin Pérez for Sportmedia)
Sweden’s Andreas Almgren timed his finish to perfection to win the 10K Valencia Ibercaja in a European record of 26:53, while Kenya’s Hellen Lobun won a high-quality women’s contest in 29:30 at the World Athletics Label road race on Sunday (12).
A large lead pack went through the first 5km in a relatively conservative 13:43, but the pace soon picked up in the second half. At about 7km, Daniel Kinyanjui started to push the tempo and the lead group had been whittled down to seven men.
With little more than a kilometre remaining, the pack had been reduced to four men: Kinyanjui, Vincent Langat, European 10,000m champion Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu and Almgren. Lobalu tried to pick up the pace but it was matched by Langat. Almgren’s challenge hadn’t faded, though, and the versatile Swede unleashed an unbeatable sprint in the closing stages, crossing the line in 26:53, breaking the European record of 27:04 set two months ago by France’s Etienne Daguinos. Lobalu (26:54) and Langat (26:55) followed closely behind.
By contrast, the women’s race started out at a swift pace – almost on schedule for a world record – before settling slightly in the second half.
Hellen Lobun wins the Valencia 10k (© Martin Pérez for Sportmedia)
Olympic 10,000m finalist Fotyen Tesfay led through the half-way point in 14:31 – 10 seconds faster than her PB for a standalone 5km – while fellow Ethiopian Girmawit Gebrzihair and Kenya’s Hellen Lobun were a few strides behind.
Tesfay’s optimistic opening pace caught up with her in the second half as she was overtaken by Lobun and Gebrzihair. In the closing stages, Lobun forged a gap ahead of Gebrzihair and went on to win in 29:30, elevating her to fourth on the world all-time list. Gebrzihair was second (29:34) ahead of Tesfay (29:42).
Leading results
Women
1 Hellen Lobun (KEN) 29:30
2 Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 29:34
3 Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 29:42
4 Asayech Ayichew (ETH) 29:43
5 Fentaye Belayneh (ETH) 30:00
6 Christine Chesiro (KEN) 30:06
7 Maurine Toroitich (KEN) 30:28
8 Miriam Serem (KEN) 30:29
9 Alice Chemtai (KEN) 30:47
10 Lomi Muleta (ETH) 31:01
Men
1 Andreas Almgren (SWE) 26:53
2 Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu (SUI) 26:54
3 Vincent Langat (KEN) 26:55
4 Daniel Kinyanjui (KEN) 27:06
5 Isaac Kimeli (BEL) 27:10
6 Benard Langat (KEN) 27:11
7 Telahun Haile Bekele (ETH) 27:13
8 Santiago Catrofe (URU) 27:16
9 Dawit Seare (ERI) 27:21
10 Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) 27:23
Hirpa and Gemechu lead Ethiopian sweep at Dubai Marathon
Bedatu Hirpa came from behind to take the women’s title at the Dubai Marathon in a huge PB of 2:18:27, while marathon debutant Bute Gemechu made it an Ethiopian double by taking the men’s title at the World Athletics Label road race in 2:04:51 on Sunday (12).
After an intriguing five-way tussle up to 25km, Dera Dida and training partner Hirpa forged a lead which was to prove unassailable for the pursers. When Dida eased away with 5km to go, it looked as though she was set to repeat her 2023 victory.
But as soon as she came into the lengthy finishing straight, she started to struggle with stomach cramps. At that stage, with less than a kilometre to run, Hirpa was still 10 seconds behind, but the 2015 world U18 1500m champion soon made up the ground and eased into the lead.
Hirpa crossed the line in 2:18:27, a substantial improvement on the PB of 2:21:09 she set in Amsterdam three months ago. Dida finished five seconds behind but was rewarded with a PB of 2:18:32. Tigist Girma, contesting her first marathon since December 2022, was third in 2:20:47.
Bute Gemechu broke away from the leading men’s group at 35km. Compatriot Shifera Tamru cut the gap to about 20 metres with two kilometres to go, but his challenge was short-lived.
Gemechu went on to win in 2:04:51, becoming the fifth Ethiopian debutant in succession to win the Dubai men’s race. Berehanu Tsegu came through for second place in 2:05:14 ahead of Tamru (2:05:28).
Ethiopian athletes filled the top 16 places in the women’s race and the first 14 positions in the men’s race.
Women
1 Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:18:27
2 Dera Dida (ETH) 2:18:32
3 Tigist Girma (ETH) 2:20:47
4 Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:21:12
5 Bertukan Welde (ETH) 2:21:54
6 Kuftu Tahir (ETH) 2:22:53
7 Gadise Mulu (ETH) 2:23:19
8 Almaz Kebede (ETH) 2:23:30
9 Kebebush Yisma (ETH) 2:24:04
10 Dibabe Beyene (ETH) 2:24:38
Men
1 Bute Gemechu (ETH) 2:04:51
2 Berehanu Tsegu (ETH) 2:05:14
3 Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:28
4 Desalegn Girma (ETH) 2:06:52
5 Dejene Hailu (ETH) 2:07:03
6 Getachew Masresha (ETH) 2:07:04
7 Tadele Demissie (ETH) 2:08:21
8 Boki Diriba (ETH) 2:09:06
9 Embay Goitom (ETH) 2:09:08
10 Yismaw Atinafu (ETH) 2:09:32
