Kolkata: Ethiopian Sutume Kebede retained the ladies’s crown within the ninth version of Tata Metal World 25K, the primary World Athletics Gold Label Street Race at this distance, within the West Bengal capital at this time. Ugandan Stephen Kissa triumphed over the defending champion, Daniel Ebenyo from Kenya, within the males’s race.
The Indian elite runners additionally returned with splendid performances, with Gulveer Singh setting a brand new occasion file and Sanjeevani taking the title within the ladies’s class.
As they converged upon the historic Purple Street, Kolkata woke as much as 14 levels Celsius and a spring of their ft. Greater than 20,500 individuals participated in numerous classes, making it one of the vital common races within the nation.
Confirming her entry simply two weeks earlier than the race, Kebede recovered from a abdomen ailment simply in time to defend her title right here in a modest 1:19:17. Having set a stand-alone World Finest for 25K right here whereas successful final yr’s race with a time of 1:18:47, the Ethiopian runner began her marketing campaign in 2024 with incredible private greatest in half-marathon (1:04:37) and marathon (2:15:55) to take the highest spots in Houston and Tokyo respectively. By the way, her timing in Tokyo made her the eighth quickest amongst ladies marathoners to this point.
Coming to Kolkata with confidence and the will to excel, Sutume began at this time’s race with some preliminary challenges from Bahrain’s Desi Jisa, the winner right here in 2022, and Kenyan Viola Chpengeno, a third-place finisher in final yr’s Delhi half-marathon. The Kenyan began fading within the waning levels of the race, thus permitting Kebede to change into a transparent chief after 23K. The Ethiopian runner’s successful time would have been higher had Chepngeno continued along with her for some extra time. Nonetheless, Kebede signed off 2024 with one other successful notice.
Chepngeno completed second in 1:19:44, whereas Jisa completed a distant third at 1:21:29.
Kebede expressed her pleasure in retaining the title: “I’m very pleased to win (right here) once more. I wished to interrupt the course file, however was somewhat bored with travelling. I’m coaching for the following yr and can take part within the marathons”.
“I’m pleased to come back second. It was not straightforward to run right here. Everybody was robust at this time. I gave my greatest, and this makes me very pleased,” Viola stated whereas Jisa added, “I’m pleased to be on the rostrum. Due to everybody.”
A redemption for Stephen Kissa within the males’s race:
Stephen Kissa salvaged some satisfaction after logging his first win in a world competitors in 5 years. He suffered two back-to-back debacles as a non-finisher on the Olympic Video games in Tokyo (10,000m) and Paris (Marathon) and took solely second spots in a few races in between. Therefore, making a podium end on his debut at 25K introduced a cheerful second for the Ugandan to cherish for a very long time.
The race kicked off with a good bit of nippiness within the air and as Kolkata broke daybreak, the highest bunch of Daniel Ebenyo, Benson Kipruto, Stephen Kissa, and Haymanot Alew made previous the 10K mark at 28:42 however appeared up the ante as they have been nonetheless a couple of seconds behind their expectation.
Defending champion Ebenyo appeared robust, remained on the helm of affairs within the males’s race, and ran neck-to-neck alongside Kissa in most elements of the race. They briefly exchanged the lead, however the hole between the duo didn’t transcend a meter or two on a regular basis. The Kenyan, who additionally set a stand-alone World Finest for 25K (1:11:13) throughout final yr’s race, was seeking to enhance his time on this version.
They reached 15K in 42:56, some 30 seconds sooner, with Ebenyo and Kissa nonetheless main the pack, because the tempo picked up alongside the tram tracks of South Kolkata. Surprisingly, Kipruto dropped off as Kissa took the lead on the 20K mark, clocking 57:50, with Ebenyo intently behind.
However he misplaced focus within the final two kilometers. As a substitute of wanting on the clock, he solely centered on pulling away from the Ugandan runner. Kissa didn’t permit that to occur and held off the problem to dash out to the tape to assert the boys’s crown in 1:12:33 and pocket the USD 15,000 prize purse.
Ebenyo completed runner-up 4 seconds later, whereas Anthony Kipchirchir stunned everybody with a bronze place at 1:12:55.
“Actually I’m very pleased. India is a really good nation. It’s my third time in India. After I was working, I assumed we might make the world file. I had two choices: both the primary place or ought to I comply with the primary group. After the primary 2 km, I noticed my physique responding nicely and so I ran with the primary group. I spotted that I ran nicely at this time. I assumed this might be my day. On the final kilometre I used to be snug, and I knew I might do it,” stated Stephen Kissa after successful the 25K.
“Daily, a champion is born in sports activities. Final yr, it was me. This yr, it was Kissa. That’s the enjoyable of sports activities. I’m very pleased. He has flown the flag of Uganda and congratulations. I used to be somewhat drained this yr as I didn’t get well from the Chicago Marathon. I’ll take a break for the festive season and spend time with my household. I felt some fatigue at this time, however it’s sports activities,” Daniel stated.
“To begin with, I thank the organizers for calling me. I’m on the rostrum for the primary time. Subsequent time, I’ll come again once more; I just like the course and hope to win right here. I used to be cheered all alongside, and I preferred it. I minimize the tempo in the direction of the 15K mark and ran at my greatest. I settled for the third. However subsequent yr, I’ll come again stronger,” stated Anthony, who completed his first podium right here.
Gulveer, Sanjeevani excel among the many Indians:
Gulveer Singh (26) habitually breaks the nationwide file in each distance occasion. He has improved the nationwide marks in 5000 and 10,000m twice this yr. The Guangzhou Asian Video games bronze medalist, who simply eight weeks in the past grew to become the Asian cross-country champion, is now turning his focus in the direction of highway working. Sawan Barwal, the 2023 Asian half-marathon bronze medalist, led Gulveer in a good portion of the race at this time. As within the worldwide class, Gulveer broke away from Sawan and sprinted to complete first and in addition registered one other Indian Finest at this distance by clocking 1:14:10. Sawan clocked a detailed 1:14:11 to cross the end line fractionally behind the chief. Gaurav Mathur completes the Indian podium in third place.
“I’m in good kind, and I assumed we might break the course file. We practiced collectively, after which we pushed one another. After 12 km there was some site visitors, so we misplaced somewhat time and made up. I’m very pleased to win,” Gulveer Singh stated.
“We get quite a lot of help. AFI has given us coach from the USA. We additionally get to go to overseas nations. That has diminished the hole with the elite internationals. Now we’re getting ready for the Asian and World Championships,” he additional stated about closing in on the Worldwide elites.
“Situation was higher this time. We wished to interrupt the course file, and so we did. We’re very pleased to realize this. I attempted my greatest to win, however Gulveer was superb at this time,” Sawan Barwal stated.
Sanjivani Jadhav, common amongst ladies runners within the nation, returned to Kolkata after 2022, the place she was a high finisher amongst Indians. Kavita Yadav aided her by initially difficult Sanjivani earlier than permitting her to run a solo race. The 28-year-old runner improved her greatest by over 5 minutes, successful in 1:29:08.
Lili Das (1:30:58) and Kavita Yadav (1:32:19) took the following two spots among the many Indian ladies.
“I’m very a lot happy to win right here once more. I practiced working a solo race. The 28-year-old runner improved her greatest by greater than 5 minutes. I’ve a private coach and this prize cash is a superb assist. I’m working very laborious for the Asian Championship. I’ll give my greatest. The World Championship may have a rating system. If we will compete exterior, we will additionally get the rankings to take part,” Sanjivani stated after successful the race.
Following are the provisional outcomes:
General Worldwide Males:
Stephen Kissa (Uganda) 1:12:33 ; Daniel Ebenyo (Kenya) 1:12:37; Anthony Kipchirchir (Kenya) 1:12:55; Benson Kipruto (Kenya) 1:13:25 ; Asbel Rutto (Kenya) 1:13:36 ; Hillary Mosop (Kenya) 1:13:56 ; Dejene Hailu (Ethiopia) 1:14:10 ; Gulveer Singh (India) 1:14:10; Sawan Barwal (India) 1:14:11 ; Rodgers Murei (Kenya) 1:15:37.
General Worldwide Ladies:
Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) 1:19:17 ; Viola Chepngeno (Kenya) 1:19:44; Desi Jisa (Bahrain) 1:21:29; Alemaddis Eyayu (Ethiopia) 1:21:42 ; Degitu Azimeraw (Ethiopia) 1:22:16; Misgane Alemayehu (Ethiopia) 1:24:40 ; Sintayehu Lewetegn (Ethiopia) 1:28:26 ; Sanjeevani Jadhav (India) 1:29:08 ; Lili Das (India) 1:30:58; Kavita Yadav (India) 1:32:19.
Indian Males:
Gulveer Singh 1:14:10 (NEW COURSE RECORD) ; Sawan Barwal 1:14:11 ; Gaurav Mathur 1:16:59 ; Abhishek Pal 1:19:00 ; Mohd Aleem 1:19:00 ; Hemant Singh 1:19:02 ;Kartik Jayraj Karkera 1:19:03; Nikhil Singh 1:19:07 ; Mayangam Lung Leng 1:19:10 ; Manoj Kumar 1:19:38.
Indian Ladies:
Sanjeevani Jadhav 1:29:08; Lili Das 1:30:58 ; Kavita Yadav 1:32:19 ; Nirmaben Bharatjee Thakor 1:35:14 ; Bhagirathi 1:36:17 ; Sanghamitra Mahata 1:38:22 ; Shyamali Sing 1:39:45 ; Madina Paul 1:40:54.
Vijay Diwas Trophy:
Indian Military 1 (Anand Singh Rawat, Manjit Singh, Hardeep Singh) 4:08:52; Indian Military 2 (Bheem Singh, Dattatray Mahadev Tambe; Manoj Joshi (4:10:37); Indian Military 3 (Vagaram Prajapati; Pintu Sharma; Banee Singh (4:13:33).
Police Cup Winners:
Police Cup Males Workforce 39 ( Joydev, Rishikesh, Manas ) 1:47:53; Police Cup Males Workforce 54 (Md Wazed, Rabindranath, Prasanta) 2:05:06 ; Police Cup Males Workforce 66 ( Ardhendu, Kousik, Amresh ) 2:07:38.
Police Cup Ladies Workforce 7 (Mallika, Sabina Jasmina) 2:20:01; Police Cup Ladies Workforce 8 (Puja, Moumita, Tanushree) 2:48:17; Police Cup Ladies Workforce 11 (Madhumita, Jayashree, Priyanka) 3:57:07
