Angela Tanui winning at the 2014 Corrida Internationale de Langueux in France (© organisers)
Victor Kimutai Chumo and Angela Tanui both set 10km personal bets as they took the honours at the 24th edition of the ‘Corrida Internationale de Langueux’, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Saturday (14).
Chumo crossed the line in 28:18, two seconds in front of his compatriot Mark Korir, for the first Kenyan win in the men’s race since 2005.
Just like last year, the race at the front was closely contested until the last few hundred metres.
The pace was fast from the beginning with a 2:36 first kilometre and a group including Ethiopia’s 2013 winner Tesfaye Abera and the Kenyan quartet of Chumo, Korir, Alfed Cherop and James Kiptum Barmasai took turns at the front in order to maintain a fast tempo.
Halfway was reached in 13:48, which put them well inside the course record of 27:46, set by Ethiopia’s Atsedu Tsegay three years ago.
Abera was soon struggling but his compatriot Fikadu Dawit kept the Ethiopain flag flying as the kilometres started to slow after the frantic first 5km.
Korir did most of the work in the final four kilometres and got rid of all of his rivals, but Chimo then used his track speed to leave his countryman trailing in his wake.
Korir was a close second with Dawit third another three seconds further back and Abera fourth in 28:24.
Tanui had more to spare over her rivals when winning the women’s race in 31:51, coming home seven seconds in front of Ethiopia’s Bekelech Daba.
The Kenyan led from the gun but started to tire in the final three kilometres as Daba started to close the gap, but she still had enough in reserve to take the win.
The Kenyan just missed out on the course record, set by France’s Christelle Daunay in 2012, by three seconds.
PJ Vazel for the IAAF
