Sebastian Sawe reigns supreme at the World Bengaluru 10km road race

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ATHLETICS Sebastian Sawe reigns supreme at the World Bengaluru 10km road race

Abigael Wafula 10:26 - 21.05.2023

Sawe cut the tape in 27:59 ahead of Rodrigue Kwizera who clocked 27:59. Hillary Chepkwoni finished third in 28:00.

Sebastian Sawe destroyed a strong field to take top honors at the World Bengaluru 10km road race in India on Sunday morning.

Sawe cut the tape in 27:59 ahead of Rodrigue Kwizera who clocked 27:59. Hillary Chepkwoni finished third in 28:00.

The men’s race was a highly contested one and had attracted some of the strongest men including defending champion Nicholas Kipkorir.

Sawe, Kipkorir and Burundi’s Kwizera were leading the pack of more than five men as they passed through the 4km mark.

Passing through the 7km mark, the leading pack still had more than five men who looked comfortable for title contention. Kipkorir, a wonderful racer on the road and track, started making the move with 2km to go as he kept checking his watch.

However, Sawe, a smart runner over the roads, was slowly watching his compatriots move and followed him closely before getting ahead of Kipkorir. Sawe looked comfortable as he controlled the race but Kwizera had other plans as he cruised past Sawe.

With about 200m to go, the race was now becoming a sprint between Kwizera, Sawe, little-known Chepkwoni and Kipkorir. Sawe’s speed worked in his favour as he won in style ahead of the duo.

Meanwhile, the women’s race was a battle between the Ethiopian duo of Tsehay Gemechu and Fotyen Tesfaye who were in a class of their own in the second half of the race.

The first half was a bit slow with the leading pack having more than six athletes including the Kenyan duo of Jesca Chelangat and Evaline Chirchir.

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As they approached the 6km mark, athletes started dropping off from the leading pack. At this point, the leading pack consisted of three Ethiopians, Gemechu, Tesfaye and Dera Dida who were looking comfortable.

Gemechu had led from the start and was still leading the race after the 6km mark. Dida was dropped as the three women made the final turn as the two women sprinted to the finish line but Gemechu was too fast for Tesfaye who was forced to settle for second place.

Gemechu cut the tape in 31:38 ahead of Tesfaye who clocked 31:42. Dida sealed the podium in 31:45. The first Kenyan to cross the finish line was Chelangat who clocked 31:58 for a fourth-place finish.

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