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Eliud Kipchoge won tonight's San Silvestre Vallecana 10-K in Madrid in an apparent world best, according to the Spanish sports daily, MARCA.
Kipchoge was clocked in an eye-popping 26:55, the fastest ever 10-K run on the roads, assuming the distance holds up under post-race validation. IAAF World Road Running champion Zersenay Tadesse finished second (his time was not reported) and Australian Craig Mottram finished third in 27:35, according to his manager and coach, Nic Bideau, who sent a text message to the RRW office. Bideau reported that the halfway split for Kipchoge was 13:07.
Kipchoge's time is faster than the IAAF-ratified world record of 27:02 set by Haile Gebrselassie in Doha in 2002. However, that mark was not ratified by the independent Association of Road Running Statisticians because Gebrselassie ran behind a large vehicle which at least partially blocked the wind. ARRS data show that Joseph Kimani's 27:04 run at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga., is the fastest-ever time for a certified 10-K, but that course is slightly downhill. The ARRS-recognized world record is 27:18 by Sammy Kipketer at Brunssum, Netherlands, set in 2001. Kipketer also ran 27:11 at the Crescent City Classic in 2002 on a flat, point-to-point course.
In the women's race, two-time ING New York City Marathon champion, Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, beat 2004 IAAF World Cross Country champion, Benita Johnson. Prokopcuka was clocked in 31:55 (unofficial) with Johnson ten seconds behind.
The course in Madrid is point-to-point and, according to RRW's records, is certified.
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