Priscah Jeptoo upstaged by Ethiopians in Sao Paulo
Ethiopia's Ymer Wude Ayalew (centre), Netsanet Gudeta Kebede (left) and Kenya's Prisca Jeptoo pose after the 90th Sao Silvestre international 15 km race in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 31 December 2014. PHOTO | MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL |
What you need to know:
- Kenyans left to play the bridesmaids at the Sao Paulo Road Race.
- Mike Kigen redeemed some pride for Kenya as the year ended with victory at the 50th edition of Madrid’s San Silvestre Vallecana in Spain.
London Olympic marathon silver Priscah Jeptoo and Stanley Koech were left to play the bridesmaids at the Sao Paulo Road Race dominated by Ethiopians on New Year’s Eve in Brazil.
However, Mike Kigen redeemed some pride for Kenya as the year ended with victory at the 50th edition of Madrid’s San Silvestre Vallecana in Spain.
Kenyan runners, who had won both men’s and women’s races in the past two years in Sao Paulo, were left settling for crumbs as Dawit Admasu took the honours for the men and 2008 champion Ymer Wude Ayalew winning the women’s race.
Admasu completed the 15 kilometres through Brazil’s most populous city in 45:04 minutes, just holding off Koech by one second with Tanzanian Fabiano Naasi third in 45:10.
Kenya’s Edwin Kipsang Rotich of Kenya had won the past two men’s titles.
Ayalew won women’s race in 50:43 with compatriot and early pace-setter Netsanet Kebede second for a second straight year, three seconds adrift. The 2011 Daegu World marathon silver medallist Jeptoo, who won in 2011, was third, 36 seconds off the pace.
Kigen and Britain’s Gemma Steel captured men and women’s wins at Silvestre Vallecana.
