Kenya: Mother Wins Shoe4africa Iten Race

The Nation (Nairobi)

December 17, 2006

David Macharia
Nairobi

A mother of three successfully battled both newcomers and established athletes to win the Shoe4Africa women's road race in Iten yesterday.

Pauline Atodonyang, 27, a housewife from West Pokot, ran a tactical race to win in 17 minutes 2.8 seconds, beating hundreds of runners who turned up for the five-kilometre road race.

Pauline Atodonyang crosses the finish line to win the race as marathon greats Paul Tergat and Moses Tanui look on.

Atodonyang, who is trying to fit into her elder sister's athletics shoes, appears set for big things in road running.

Last week, she finished second in 15km race for women at the Baringo Half marathon race meeting.

Yesterday's race started on a blistering speed set by Africa 5,000m bronze medallist Silvia Kibet, Turkermatt Wareng Cross-country junior women's champion Gladys Otero and world steeplechase silver medallist and Africa champion Jeruto Kiptum.

Zimbabwean runner

Others in the leading pack were Irene Kwambai and a Zimbabwean runner, Sharon Tavengwa.

The early burst of speed, however, proved to be the main undoing for the early pace setters as only Kibet (fourth) finished among top 10.

Kwambai was 11th and Kiptum 20th.

The first hill climb of the race, that was flagged off at Salaba on the Eldoret-Iten road by a renowned film actor Anthony Edwards from Hollywood, had its toll on the early leaders.

It was not until the third kilometre that Atodonyang, Consolata Chemutai, eighth at the world cross-country championships in Fukuoka, Japan, this year and Hellen Kirop, a silver medallist at this year's Amsterdam Marathon made a serious attack on the leading pack and immediately took control of the race.

It was only Kibet, among the early leaders, who was able to hang on with Atodonyang, Chemutai and Kirop. With a kilometre to go, it was evident that the eventual winner was gaining on the leader.

At this point, Beatrice Chepchumba, who returned home early this month after several races in France, moved to fourth as the race entered Iten town.

The race painted Iten town yellow as the organisers gave out hundreds of yellow T-shirts to all the runners and officials. The race was attended by Kenya's former and current world beaters among them Paul Tergat, Moses Tanui, Moses Kiptanui, Ezekiel Kemboi and Robert Cheruiyot.

Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat and the 2007 Mombasa world cross-country championships local organising committee chief executive, Isaac Kalua, were also present. Multiple world record holder Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands was one of the race's organisers alongside Shoe4Africa Foundation directors Toby Tanser and Pieter Langerhorst. Over 3,000 athletes registered for the race making it Africa's biggest women's only race.

Selected results: 1. Pauline Atodonyang, 17:02.8, 2. Consolata Chemutai, 17:04.5, 3. Beatrice Chepchumba, 17:06.3, 4. Silvia Kibet, 17:07.03, 5. Hellen Kirop, 17:13.10, 6. Beatrice Rutto, 17:16.20, 7. Gladys Kemboi 17:17.10, 8. Pamela Lisoreng, 17:18.30, 9. Viola Bor, 17:22.40, 10. lenah Cheruiyot, 17:28.70, 11. Irene Kwambai, 17:31.80.