byRBR Admin
Youngest from Kenyans
CARDIFF (GBR, Mar 26): In the women’s contest, there was no doubt that the five-strong Kenyan team was the best on the field of play. Led by Mary Wacera, the silver medalist from these championships in 2014, Team Kenya led right from the starter’s gun, completely controlling the race. By the 15-K mark (48:14) only one Kenyan, Pascalia Kipkoech, had fallen off the pace. Two Ethiopians, Netsanet Gudeta and Ganet Yalew, managed to hold the tempo with Wacera, and her Kenyan compatriots Peres Jepchirchir, Cynthia Limo, and Gladys Cheshire. They would soon find the pace, rain and cold too tough, especially with the modest hills near the end. At the end two remained and the youngest Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir found another speed range and won in 1:07:31 over Cynthia Limo 1:07:34. Third Wacera 1:07:54. “It was difficult,” Jepchirchir said. “The last two kilometers it was climbing the hill. Yeah, it was cold.” Kenya clearly won teams with final time 3:22:59. Ethiopia took a distant second in the team competition with a total time of 3:26:29. A young Japanese team was third (3:32:25). Best European team was Italy in 3:38:44 as 7th. Best non-African runner was Peru´s Gladys Tejeda as 9th in South American record 1:10:14 and best European Italian Veronica Inglese as 16th in 1:10:59.
