NEW YORK (May 10, 2014) – Stephen Sambu called it the best performance of his life. After following two-time UAE Healthy Kidney 10K champion Leonard Patrick Komon for two miles, Sambu caught his Kenyan countryman at the top of Harlem Hill and passed him on the way down. In the lead with less than 300 meters to go, Sambu took a wrong turn but quickly got back on course to cross the line in a winning time of 27 minutes, 39 seconds. Komon followed in 28:18, and 2012 champion Daniele Meucci of Italy closed fast to take third in 28:19.
Joyce Chepkirui made it a Kenyan sweep of the titles, winning the inaugural professional women’s race in 31:17, the fastest women’s 10K time ever run at this event. She ran in a pack of four until the 5K point, then pulled away from 2013 Oakley New York Mini champion Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia (second, 31:41) and Mary Wacera of Kenya (third, 31:52). Chepkirui, like Sambu, will take home a $25,000 winner’s purse—the largest at any 10K in the world and at any non-marathon road race in the United States.
Komon holds the world road 10K record at 26:44, and he hadn’t lost a 10K since February of 2011; this was only the second loss among his 12 career 10K races. Sambu, a University of Arizona graduate who’s called “the best runner who never won an NCAA title” by track insiders, had finished third here last year and also in this year’s NYC Half. He now owns a very prestigious New York City title.
Nearly 8,000 runners completed the slog, with the pros up front delivering some of the fastest times ever seen in Central Park despite the swampy conditions.
For full results, visit nyrr.org
2014 UAE Healthy Kidney 10K
New York, NY, Saturday, May 10, 2014
Men
1 Stephen Sambu 25 KEN 27:39
2 Leonard Patrick Komon 26 NIKE KEN 28:17
3 Daniele Meucci 28 DIAD ITA 28:19
4 Collis Birmingham 29 NIKE AUS 28:22
5 Mourad Marofit 32 MAR 28:50
6 Kevin Kochei 24 KEN 28:52
7 Yonas Mebrahtu 26 WSX ERI 29:00
8 Ayele Megersa Feisa 26 WSX ETH 29:29
Women
1 Joyce Chepkirui 25 ADID KEN 31:17
2 Mamitu Daska 30 NIKE ETH 31:40
3 Mary Wacera 25 NIKE KEN 31:52
4 Gelete Burka 28 NIKE ETH 32:01
5 Risper Gesabwa 25 KEN 32:19
6 Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton 25 KEN 32:37
7 Rkia El Moukim 26 MAR 33:37
8 bertukan germame 22 NY 33:58
