A new dimension to the competition between men and women
The organisers of the 26th Dam to Dam Run have attracted several of the world's best runners for the 10-mile race. Moses Masai and Sileshi Sihine will be clashing with each other on Sunday 19 September in any case. Besides Lornah Kiplagat and Hilda Kibet, Le Champion also managed to attract Doris Changeiywo. She is considered to be a great talent. It promises to be a fast race, as the Dam to Dam course is confirmed as the fastest in the world.
Le Champion is delighted that the 2009 winner, Moses Masai will be at the start once again. The Kenyan hasn't run much this year, but proved to be strong in the races that he did take part in. For example he won the coveted World's Best 10K in Puerto Rico. The hotly contested event has always had a strong field of runners, a high level of humidity and heat. He recently came seventh at the 5,000 metres during the Diamonds League in Zurich. The Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine, who is building a road running career will be on the racetrack. The combination of speed and power has become his trademark. He is a formidable opponent for Masai. He also has two 10,000 metres silver medals to his name from the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games.
There will be the traditional competition between the men and the women. Everyone remembers the competition between Moses and Linet Masai last year. Family honour was at stake as was the battle of the sexes. The women start a few minutes before the men on the Prins Hendrikskade in Amsterdam. Once again that is 5.46 minutes (the difference between the men and women's course record). In 2009 Linet beat her brother Moses. She is not taking part this year, but Moses' wife Doris Changeiywo will be competing with him this time. This husband and wife competition can be followed live via a link on www.damloop.nl. Changeiywo will be running against Lornah Kiplagat and Hilda Kibet among others. She has trained at Kipagat's High Altitude Training Centre, where young talented Kenyan girls are given a chance to develop in sports and general education. Changeiywo will therefore be competing against her mentor Kiplagat, who herself is keen on winning and taking back her world record which was broken by Masai. The athlete from Groet ran the 2006 Dam-to-Dam Run in 50.50 minutes. In 2009 Linet Masai finished in 50.38 minutes on the Peperstraat in Zaandam and asserted herself at the head of the 2009 10 mile world rankings. There are seven 2009 Dam-to-Dam Run participants in the top ten of this list. The Dam-to-Dam Run occupies places one up to and including five. In the men's section Moses Masai is in second place with 45.15 minutes. There are four 2009 Dam-to-Dam participants in the top ten. The Dam-to-Dam Run is the only European race noted in the top ten. This confirms to the world how fast the course from Amsterdam to Zaandam is.
Website: www.damloop.nl.
Photo: Winner Dam to Dam Run 2009, Moses Masai. [Credit] Erik van Leeuwen
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