Kenyan teams win three of four races in Spain as well as three individual world titles
From the IAAF and USATF
Flanagan Leads Team USA to Bronze
PUNTA UMBRIA, Spain – At the 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Kenya continued its dominance of world distance running by winning the Senior and Junior men’s team titles, as well as the Senior women’s crown, during races here on Sunday, March 20, 2011. In the race for the Junior women’s title, Ethiopia edged out the Kenyan women by two points.
In the Senior men’s race, Imana Marga of Ethiopia edged out Paul Tanui of Kenya by two seconds over 12K, 33 minutes, 50 seconds to 33:52. Three of Tanui’s teammates followed him into the chute, assuring the team title for the Kenyans. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya took the Senior women’s 8K race in 24:58, while Kenyans Geoffrey Kamworor won the Junior men’s 8K title in 22:21 and Faith Kipyegon the Junior women’s 6K in 18:53.
The U.S. Senior women’s team repeated their 2010 bronze medal finish, with two-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) finishing in third place overall to lead the Americans in 25:10 over the 8K loop course. Flanagan, 29, who ran with the leaders from the first circuit on Sunday, improved on a 12th place finish at the 2010 world championships. Her medal was the first U.S. individual medal here since Deena Kastor’s silver medal at the 2003 world cross.
“I had to rise up and elevate my game today. I was so pleased to be in medal position,” said Flanagan, the 2008 Olympic 10,000 meter bronze medalist. “It was a lot of fun today. I know that we have to elevate our game in order to be in a medal position. I love the fact that this is a team sport, and there is a great team dynamic going with all of the ladies on the team.”
Team USA placed three more runners in the top 20 with Molly Huddle (Providence, R.I.), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) and Blake Russell (Pacific Grove, Calif.) finishing 17th, 18th and 19th in 26:26, 26:27 and 26:30 respectively.
No other U.S. teams reached the podium, and no other U.S. runners placed in the top ten.
39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Punta Umbria, Spain, Sunday, March 20, 2011
WOMEN – 8K
1) Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (KEN), 24:58, $30,000
2) Linet Chepkwemoi Masai (KEN), 25:07, $15,000
3) Shalane Flanagan (USA), 25:10, $10,000
4) Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 25:18, $7000
5) Priscah Jepleting Cherono (KEN), 25:20, $5000
6) Wude Ayalew (ETH) 25:21, $3000
7) Pauline Chemning Korikwiang (KEN) 25:26
8) Lineth Chepkurui (KEN), 25:28
9) Genzebe Dibaba (ETH), 25:36
10) Beleynesh Oljira (ETH), 25:40
Other U.S.
17) Molly Huddle (USA), 26:26
18) Magdalena Lewy Boulet (USA), 26:27
19) Blake Russell (USA), 26:30
28) Alissa McKaig (USA), 26:36
40) Lisa Koll (USA), 27:15
TEAM
1) Kenya, 15 points, $20,000
2) Ethiopia, 29, $16,000
3) United States, 57, $12,000
4) Bahrain, 87, $10,000
5) Great Britain, 118, $8000
6) Uganda, 148, $4000
MEN – 12K
1) Imana Marga (ETH), 33:50, $30,000
2) Paul Kipngetich Tanui (KEN), 33:52, $15,000
3) Vincent Kiprop Chepkok (KEN), 33:53, $10,000
4) Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio (KEN), 33:55, $7000
5) Geoffrey Kiprono Mutai (KEN), 34:03, $5000
6) Stephen Kiprotich (UGA), 34:07. $3000
7) Philemon Kimeli Limo (KEN), 34:21
8) Hunegnaw Mesfin (ETH), 34:25
9) Ali Hasan Mahboob (BRN), 34:30
10) Hosea Mwok Macharinyang (KEN), 34:30
U.S.
36) Ben True (USA), 35:56
40) Max King (USA), 36:02
55) Brent Vaughn (USA), 36:32
68) Andrew Carlson (USA), 36:52
75) Brian Olinger (USA), 37:14
78) Andrew Bumbalough (USA), 37:24
TEAM
1) Kenya, 14 points, $20,000
2) Ethiopia, 38, $16,000
3) Uganda, 49, $12,000
4) Eritrea, 95, $10,000
5) South Africa, 113, $8000
6) Bahrain, 130, $4000
10) USA, 199
