NEW YORK (16-May) -- Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia made a strong move in the sixth kilometer of today's 5th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K, ran away from the field, and recorded the fastest-ever 10 kilometers in New York City: 27:48. It was Tola's second major victory here (he also won last summer's NYC Half-Marathon), and earned him a special $20,000 bonus put up by the embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the race sponsor.
Tola, 21, beat the same man today whom he beat in last summer's half-marathon, Kenya's Patrick Makau. Tola and Makau were together through 5 km in 13:57, well under Dathan Ritzenhein's 28:08 event and Central Park record pace. Shaking off any ill effects of the heavy rain shower which fell during the race's opening kilometers, Tola left Makau and opened up a ten second lead by the 7th kilometer, a lead which widened to 15 seconds by 8 km (22:57). Pushing all the way to the same finish line used for the ING New York City Marathon, Tola broke Ritzenhein's record by an even 20 seconds.
Makau successfully fought of a late race charge by compatriot Boaz Cheboiywo and finished second in 28:28. Cheboiywo got third in 28:31.
Tola's time, remarkable considering the hilly course which actually has an elevation gain of about six meters, was the fastest in the United States since March of 2008. It was also a personal best for Tola who has run 27:04.89 for 10,000m on the track.
A record 10,000 runners registered for the race, which was organized by the New York Road Runners.
For more, visit the website if the New York Road Runners at NYRR.org.
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