Sabastian Sawe moved to fifth on the men’s world 10km all-time list, following his victory at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on April 29.
Kenya’s Sawe turned the tables on last year’s 10km winner Kibiwott Kandie to triumph in 26:49 – three seconds ahead of his compatriot.
With that time, Sawe improved his PB by five seconds to better the 26:54 he ran when finishing runner-up to Kandie in Herzogenaurach last year.
Forming part of a Kenyan top five, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli was third in 26:54, world record-holder Rhonex Kipruto was fourth in 27:09 and Levy Kibet was fifth in 27:14.
Kandie and Sawe were to the fore as the first kilometre was covered in 2:41 and then Kandie took control, leaving the pacemakers behind, as 3km was hit in 8:04.
The halfway point was reached in 13:27 as Kandie led from Kipruto and they started to string out the field, a 2:37 sixth kilometre further breaking up the pack.
But then the pace dipped slightly and Sawe took advantage, gaining a gap on his rivals that he wouldn’t relinquish. Always in control, he continued to move ahead and claimed a clear win – a second consecutive victory after his half marathon triumph in Berlin at the start of this month.
Kenya’s Irine Jepchumba Kimais also maintained a win streak, taking top spot in the women’s 10km in a PB of 30:23 as she held off the challenge from Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay and Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich.
Kimais, who claimed half marathon victories in Barcelona in February and Prague earlier this month, improved her previous 10km best of 31:21 that secured her ninth place at this event last year, winning by three seconds ahead of Tesfay.
Ngetich, who claimed bronze at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in February, finished third in 30:27 as the top three all set PBs.
Behind them, Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich finished fourth in 30:28 and Ethiopia’s 17-year-old Senayet Getachew set a world U20 best of 30:34 to finish fifth.
