By Y.B. Sarangi | The Hindu
NEW DELHI: Deriba Merga of Ethiopia pipped Wilson Kipsang of Kenya by just one second to win the men’s race in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday.
On a pleasant winter morning, Merga survived the pressure of a nerve-wracking contest from Kipsang throughout the race.
Merga, thus, set a new course record of 59:15 to win the lucrative purse of $25,000. Kipsang clocked 59:16 for the silver and $15,000, while another Kenyan Wilson Chebet registered a timing of 59:34 for the bronze and $10,000. Merga’s time also equalled Haile Gebrselassie’s mark for the season.
Up to 10km, the top three had an identical timing of 27.30, but by the 19.5km mark Merga, at 54:10, took a two-second lead over Kipsang. Chebet, separated from the leader by five seconds, looked like losing the battle for the top spot.
Merga, who narrowly missed out on a medal and finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics this year, was over the moon with his effort.
The women’s competition was equally thrilling with another Ethiopian Mergia Aselefech winning the title by one second. Aselefech timed a caree-best 68:17 for the gold after a neck-and-neck fight with compatriot Genet Getaneh, who clocked 68:18.
The third place went to Kenyan Peninah Arusei, the World championship silver winner last month, who finished with a time of 1:08:20.
Good show by Indians
The Indian athletes’ performance was also equally commendable. Sandeep Kumar impressed in the men’s section by clocking 1:04:53 and his friend Kashinath Aswale finished a second later. The Indian women’s race was shrouded in confusion as some chips got mixed up and there was an uncertainty over the winner. However, Kavita Raut defended her title with a much improved showing of 1:17:12.
The results: Men: 1. Deriba Merga (Eth) 59:15; 2. Wilson Kipsang (Ken) 59:16; 3. Wilson Chebet (Ken) 59:34;4. Regassa Tilahun (Eth) 1:00:28; 5. Tadesse Tola (Eth) 1:00:45; 6. Dieudonne Disi (Rwa) 1:00:47; 7. Kiplimo Kimutai (Ken) 1:00:58; 8. Joseph Maregu (Ken) 1:01:03; 9. Eshetu Wondimu (Eth) 1:01:04; 10. William Chebon (Ken) 1:01:17.
Women: 1. Mergia Aselefech (Eth) 1:08:17; 2. Genet Getaneh (Eth) 1:08:18; 3. Peninah Arusei (Ken) 1:08:20; 4. Atsede Habtamu (Eth) 1:09:37; 5. Ashim Kasim (Eth) 1:10:19; 6. Tiki Gelana (Eth) 1:10:22; 7. Pauline Njeri (Ken) 1:10:23;8.. Mare Dibaba (Eth) 1:10:28; 9. Pauline Wangui (Ken) 1:10:36; 10. Tigist Tufa (Eth) 1:10:41.
Indian men: 1. Sandeep Kumar 1:04:48; 2. Kashinath Aswale1:04:52; 3. Deep Chand 1:04:56; 4. Irrappa Akki 1:05:07; 5. Surendra Singh 1:05:28; 6. Lengoi Binning 1:05:28.
Indian women: 1. Kavita Raut 1:17: 12; 2. Preethi L Rao 1:17:20; 3. Sudha Singh 1:17:39; 4. Vivek Suba 1:18:02; 5. Kiran Tiwari 1:21:51; 6. Manjusha C. A. 1:23:21.