Loice Chemnung led a dominant Kenyan performance at the tRUNsylvania International 10K, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, claiming victory in 30:13 and securing a Kenyan sweep of the top six places.
Chemnung, who set a personal best of 29:57 in Paris earlier this year, broke away from her last challenger, Janeth Chepngetich, in the final stages.
Chemnung timing
Chepngetich finished second in 30:19, while fellow Kenyan Judy Kemboi took third in 30:29. All three women posted negative splits, with a large pack of 12 runners staying together through the first half of the race, clocking 15:19 at the 5K mark.
In the men’s race, Daniel Kinyanjui took the title in a closely contested finish, crossing the line in 27:08. Kinyanjui outkicked Morocco’s Hicham Amghar and Kenya’s Weldon Lagat, who both finished just a second behind in 27:09.
The men’s race followed a similar pattern to the women’s, with a pack of 12 runners hitting the halfway point in 13:38 before the pace quickened in the second half, leading to a thrilling sprint finish.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris claimed a decisive victory at the Dam tot Damloop 10-mile road race between Amsterdam and Zaandam.
Edris crossed the line in 44:51, moving into eighth place on the world all-time list for the distance. He finished 27 seconds ahead of three-time world 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei, who took second in 45:18. Defending champion Mathew Kimeli finished third in 45:44.
Edris early break
Edris made an early break, hitting the 5K mark in 14:02 with a few seconds’ lead over Cheptegei. By 10K, Edris clocked 27:49, just 11 seconds off his personal best, while Cheptegei was seven seconds behind. Though the pace slowed over the final 6K, Edris continued to extend his lead, finishing comfortably ahead of Cheptegei, who came in just three seconds shy of his 2018 winning time.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Asayech Ayichew made it a double victory for her country, winning in 51:15.
Kenya’s Gladys Chepkurui took second in 51:34, with Ethiopia’s Mebrat Gidey finishing third in 52:14. Ayichew and Chepkurui ran together through the first 10K, passing the 5K mark in 15:34 and 10K in 31:37. However, Ayichew pulled away in the closing stages to claim the win.
