RTE news Abraham Chebii defended his men’s title in the Great Ireland run in Dublin by holding off former Kenyan team-mate Abdullah Ahmad Hassan by three seconds in a time of 28mins 48secs.
‘He made me fight all of the way before I put in a sprint in the last 300 metres,’ said Chebii of his rival, formerly known as Albert Chepkurui but who has represented Qatar for the last five years.
The pair of Africans fought their own battle, although seven-times European Cross-Country champion Sergiy Lebid put up a strong performance when finishing just eight seconds behind Hassan.
Doris Changeywo’s victory in the Women’s event by seven seconds was fully merited after winning in a time of 32:15. Jo Pavey of Britain was second Pavey taking plenty of confidence from her own outing over 10 kilometres in Phoenix Park, where in strong winds she was more than happy at recording a time of 32 minutes 22 seconds.
The pair, along with Benita Johnson and Aniko Kalovics, was always expected to be the main contenders.
Johnson, however, was never in the hunt for a win and faded to seventh position, a place ahead of her fellow Australian and defending champion Victoria Mitchell.
Kalovics, just three weeks after placing third in the Rome Marathon, lasted a little longer before falling off the pace, although she still produced a good time of 32mins 45secs for third in the unhelpful conditions.
The 23-year-old Kenyan, displaying the strength which earned her fourth place at last weekend’s World Cross-Country Championships, gradually ground down her major rivals until with three kilometres remaining the duel was between herself and Pavey.
Pavey, running only her second race for over six months, managed to maintain her momentum and a place alongside the Kenyan until Changeywo released a searing turn of speed on the course’s biggest hill with just under two kilometres to run.
‘Doris was obviously in good shape given her position at the World Cross Country and it showed when she just pulled away from me on the steepest part of the course,’ said Pavey.
‘I’ve never been a great hill-runner but once we got back on to the flat, I felt I was making ground upon her.
‘I was concentrating on catching her but really given her strength, there was no way it was going to happen.
‘But it’s nice to be back racing at this level and the result shows I’m travelling in the right direction going into the summer season.’
Pavey, who is returning to her altitude training base in South Africa on Tuesday, added: ‘I’ll be staying in Dullstroom for three weeks or even a month, before returning for another 10km road race.
‘These type of events suit me and of course it is the same distance as I will race over in Beijing. I’m feeling good and am very happy with how I performed.’
Sonia O’ Sullivan finished 10th, over three minutes behind the winner, in a time of 35:33
Great Ireland Run
Results of Great Ireland Run 2008
Phoenix Park, Dublin – 10 km
Sunday 6th April 2008
Men
1. Abraham Chebii (Kenya) 28:48
2. Ahmed Hassan Abdullah (Qatar) 28:51
3. Sergiy Lebid (Ukraine) 28:59
4. Nick McCormick (Great Britain) 29:18
5. Martin Dent (Australia) 29:38
6. Ivan Babaryka (Ukraine) 29:41
Women
1. Doris Changeywo (Kenya) 32:15
2. Jo Pavey (Great Britain) 32:22
3. Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 32:45
4. Kate Reed (Great Britain) 32:50
5. Lisa Weightman (Australia) 32:58
6. Helen Clitheroe (Great Britain) 33:14
Junior Run –Boys (2.7km)
1. Christy O’Brien (Thurles Crokes) 8:52
2. Stephen Gibney (Dundrum South Dublin) 9:33
3. Kevin Dooney (CBC Monkstown) 9:42
Junior Run – Girls (2.7km)
1. Ciara Hewson (Le Cheile AC) 10:08
2. Niamh Doyle (Celtic AC) 10:27
3. Emer Kennedy (Thurles Crokes) 10:30
full results at : https://www.greatrun.org/
