DAVENPORT, Iowa – The 2013 Quad-City Times Bix 7 lived up to its pre-race depth as Leonard Korir of Kenya and Sule Utura of Ethiopia claimed the Men’s and Women’s Elite titles – their first career starts at the 39th edition event.
Korir covered the seven miles in 32 minutes, 15 seconds to outlast Silas Kipruto of Kenya by four seconds. Kipruto finished second in his attempt to win an unprecedented third consecutive Bix title. Utura clocked 36:34 to outpace Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia by five seconds.
In total, 16 new faces were part of the elite fields on a day when the Bix 7 set a record for lowest temperature as the race time mercury was an unseasonable 58 degrees (F) with a light wind. The chill put the freeze on any record-setting attempts as the participants chose to run tactical races.
Two-time United States Olympian Meb Keflezighi (32:39), returning to Bix to try and win a third title, pushed the early pace. He eventually continued his streak of top five performances in Davenport when he claimed third by surging past Julius Koskei (32:44) of Kenya. Peter Kamais of Kenya was fifth in 33:01.
However, the day belonged to Kipruto and Korir who broke away at about the 20 minute mark on the escalating grade of Kirkwood Boulevard. As they turned and moved down the Brady Street Hill, the two were shoulder-to-shoulder.
Korir used the even standing to hit the Fourth Street straightaway and accelerate to leave Kipruto short in his three-peat attempt.
In the women’s race, Betsy Saina of Kenya, the reigning NCAA 10,000 meter champion from Iowa State, was the pacesetter in her first professional start on the roads. Eventually, the pack included Deba, Caroline Rotich of Kenya, Makida Abdela of Kenya (38:34) and Utura.
Again, Kirkwood Boulevard was the equalizer as Deba and Utura broke free and made it a two-woman race. Utura also stayed even down Brady Street and like Korir on the men’s side, Fourth Street proved flat and fast enough for Utura to kick and earn the victory.
Rotich, who won in 2011 and was second in 2012, claimed third place in 37:02. Adrienne Herzog of the Netherlands continued her hot streak staying in contact for fourth (37:06) while Jane Murrage (37:21) of Kenya and Saina (37:26) were fifth and sixth respectively.
Besides Keflezighi, American men Carlos Carballo (34:39) and Mike Sayenko (35:26) were 12th and 14th. For the elite US women, Desi Davila (38:35) continued her rebound from injury to get 10th while Alexi Pappas (38:37) was 11th.
39th Quad-City Times Bix 7 Elite Top 10 Results
Davenport, IA, Saturday, July 27, 2013
MEN
1. Leonard Korir Kenya 32:15 ($12,500)
2. Silas Kipruto Kenya 32:19 ($4,000)
3. Meb Keflezighi USA 32:39 ($2,500)
4. Julius Koskei Kenya 32:44 ($1,500)
5. Peter Kamais Kenya 33:01 ($1,000)
6. Julius Keter Kenya 33:07 ($900)
7. Tolossa Gedefa Ethiopia 33:19 ($800)
8. Dino Sefir Ethiopia 33:26 ($700)
9. Mykola Labovskyy Ukraine 33:40 ($600)
10. Shadrack Kiyai Kenya 33:44 ($500)
WOMEN
1. Sule Utura Ethiopia 36:34 ($12,500)
2. Buzunesh Deba Ethiopia 36:39 ($4,000)
3. Caroline Rotich Kenya 37:02 ($2,500)
4. Adrienne Herzog Netherlands 37:06 ($1,500)
5. Jane Murrage Kenya 37:21 ($1,000)
6. Betsy Saina Kenya 37:26 ($900)
7. Diane Nukuri-Johnson Burundi 37:32 ($800)
8. Rina Yamazaki Japan 38:17 ($700)
9. Makida Abdela Kenya 38:34 ($600)
10. Desi Davila USA 38:35 ($500)
