The 2009 IAAF World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam ran the fastest-ever 10-K in Central Park here today, winning the 6th annual UAE Healthy Kidney 10-K in 27 minutes and 42 seconds.
Gebremariam, 25 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ran aggressively with Kenyan Peter Kamais, the 2010 NYC Half-Marathon champion, right from the gun. The pair were under course record pace at the one-mile checkpoint (4:26) and through the first 5 km (13:47), where they had built a ten second lead over Kenyan Julius Kogo and Englishman Chris Thompson.
The duo ran together until there were 800 meters to go, and Gebremariam used his superior sprint speed to pull away from Kamais for good. Kamais ran 27:49, just one second slower than Tadese Tola's one year-old course record. Kogo finished third (28:19) and Thompson fourth (28:25).
In addition to his first place prize of $7500, Gebremariam also won a special $20,000 bonus for breaking Tola's record.
"I wear number one because I am number one," Gebremariam joked, pointing at his bib number.
Abdi Abdirahman of Tucson, Ariz., was the top American, finishing sixth in 28:35.
Sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and benefiting the National Kidney Foundation, nearly 7800 runners finished the race today, an event record. The runners were treated to near-perfect spring weather with bright sunshine and comfortably cool temperatures.
Editor's Note: Former World Record holder in the marathon, Khalid Khannouchi, was 21st in 30:31 in his first race since foot surgery 13 months ago. Khannouchi was one spot ahead of former NCAA 5k champ Bobby Curtis.
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1 Gebre Gebremariam 25 ADID Addis Ababa Ethiopia 27:42:00 0:13:47
2 Peter Kamais 33 ADID Eldoret Kenya 27:49:00 0:13:47
3 Julius Kogo 24 WTC Kapsabet Kenya 28:19:00 0:13:56
4 Chris Thompson 29 OTC Eugene UK 28:25:00 0:13:56
5 Alistair Cragg 29 ADID Mammoth Lakes Ireland 28:33:00 0:14:02
6 Abdi Abdirahman 33 NIKE Tucson USA 28:35:00 0:14:02
7 Ben St. Lawrence 28 NEWB Centennial Park Australia 28:36:00 0:14:05
8 Mohamed Trafeh 25 NIKE Duarte USA 28:37:00 0:14:03
9 Ed Moran 28 NIKE Williamsburg USA 28:39:00 0:14:06
10 Shadrack Biwott 25 OTC Eugene Kenya 28:57:00 0:14:03
11 Boaz Cheboiywo 31 NIKE Ypsilanti Kenya 29:00:00 0:14:05
12 Patrick Smyth 23 NIKE Minneapolis USA 29:03:00 0:14:06
13 Deresse Deniboba 28 WTC Bronx Ethiopia 29:09:00 0:14:25
14 Collis Birmingham 25 NIKE Melbourne Australia 29:16:00 0:14:08
15 Kumsa Adugna Megersa 23 WSX BRONX Ethiopia 29:19:00 0:14:17
16 Tesfaye Girma 27 WSX BRONX Ethiopia 29:24:00 0:14:24
17 Richard Bett 20 MARION Kenya 29:50:00 0:14:20
18 Haron Lagat 26 NEWB Lubbock Kenya 29:58:00 0:14:32
19 Abiyot Endale 24 WTC BRONX 29:59:00 0:14:26
20 Ketema Nigusse 29 WSX BRONX Ethiopia 30:18:00 0:15:03
21 Khalid Khannouchi 38 NEWB Ossining USA 30:31:00 0:15:03
22 Bobby Curtis 25 REEB Ardmore USA 30:39:00 0:15:21
23 Jon Rankin 28 MGUI Seattle 30:44:00 0:15:09
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