NIJMEGEN, THE NETERLANDS – Mestawat Tufa and Ayele Abshiro of Ethiopia were the winners of the 25th edition of the Fortis Zevenheuvelen loop (Seven hills run), an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, in Nijmegen.

Tufa won the women’s race in 46:56, missing by a mere second the 46:55 World Record over the distance which was set by Japanese Kayoko Fukushi in Marugame on 5 February 2006.

Tufa was a class of her own. The Ethiopian was after five kilometres already way ahead of her nearest opponents. She passed five km in 15:55, with Martha Komu already nearly half a minute (16:21) back. At 10 kms Tufa clocked 31:31 while Komu passed later in 33:16. Tufa finished 21st overall.

Abshiro clocked 42:16 in winning the men’s race. He was well outside the World record of 41:29, which Felix Limo of Kenya set seven years ago (11 Nov 2001) on the Nijmegen course.

Tufa was well ahead of her nearest opponent, Martha Komu of Kenya, who came home second in 50:06, more than three minutes behind. Abshiro outsprinted Isaac Kiprono of Uganda by four seconds. Hot favourite Kenenisa Bekele finished third in 43:41.

Ankle injury slows Bekele

The Ethiopian Olympic double {www:champion} (5000 and 10,000m) however had an excuse. Two days before the race it became clear that he had an ankle {www:injury}. Although he was advised not to start in the race Bekele decided to start anyway. From the start he was in the leading group of four which further consisted of Abshiro, Kiprop and his younger brother, Tariku Bekele.

Kiprop passed the 5 kilometre marker in 14:08 with the other three two seconds behind. On the way to 10 kilometres Kenenisa Bekele left his opponents and passed 10 kilometres in 27:56, fifteen seconds ahead of Kiprop and 17 seconds in front of the eventual winner Abshiro. But just after 11 kilometres Bekele felt his injured ankle {www:protest}. He decided to calm down and was passed by Abshiro and Kiprop. In the latter stages of the race Abshiro outsprinted Kiprop to take the victory.

Over 31,000 runners took part, running in mild fally conditions.

Wim van Hemert for the IAAF

Leading Results –
WOMEN –
1. Mestawat Tufa (Eth) 46:56, second fastest time ever; 5 km 15:55, 10 km 31:31
2. Martha Kome (Ken) 50:06
3. Gladys Otero (Ken) 50:35
4. Beata Rakonczai (Hun) 50:50
5. Miranda Boonstra (Ned) 51:19
6. Massila Ndunge (Ken) 52:16
7. Paula Todoran (Rou) 52:24
8. Ilse Pol (Ned) 52:30
9. Corine Spaans (Ned) 54:36
10. Nadja Wijenberg (Ned) 55:10 40+

MEN –
1. Ayelech Absihiro (Eth) 42:16 splits: 5 km 14:09, 10 km 28:13
2. Isaac Kiprop (Uga) 42:20 splits: 5 km 14:08, 10 km 28:11
3. Kenenisa Bekele (Eth) 43:41 splits: 5 km 14:11, 10 km 27:56
4. Tariku Bekele (Eth) 44:03
5. Dennis Licht (Ned) 44:07
6. Saji Bouazza (Mor) 44:07 correct
7. Stafano Baldini (Ita) 44:09
8. Simon Munyutu (Fra) 44:14
9. Patrick Stitzinger (Ned) 44:18
10. Nordin Athamna (Alg) 45:18
11. Marco Gielen (Ned) 45:20
12. Larbi es Sraidi (Fra) 45:35
13. Marius Ionescu (Rum) 45:52
14. Neals Strik (Ned) 46:22
15. Dimitri Dubovski (Blr) 46:24
16. Koen Raymaekers (Ned) 46:25
17. Maciek Miereczko (Pol) 46:39
18. Colin Bekers (Ned) 46:43
19. Dennis Licht (Ned) 46:43 correct
20. Ruben Scheurwater (Ned) 46:54

– Wim van Hemert | IAAF