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Three-Peat

Reta wins half marathon for third time

August 22, 2009
By JAY W. BENNETT
PARKERSBURG — Ethiopian Alene Reta became the first runner to capture three consecutive News and Sentinel Half Marathon championships as the 27-year-old bested the field by better than a minute on Saturday morning to win going away.


Reta tied the record of Kenyan Godfrey Kiprotich for most overall titles with three. Kiprotich captured victories on the 13.1-mile course in 1992 and then back-to-back in 1994 and 1995.


With a finishing time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 15 seconds, Reta actually had his slowest effort of his three titles. In 2008, Reta finished in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 52 seconds, which was 13 seconds slower than his 2007 victory. Steve Kogo’s 1990 course record of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 25 seconds will stand for at least another year.


“I tried my best, but this course is very hard to top,” said Reta, who once again claimed the top prize of $3,000 and the title of Road Runners Club of America national champion.


Even though eventual 13th place finisher Daniel Kipkoech started out leading the race early on, it was obvious from the time a small pack of a half dozen runners made it through the first mile it was going to be Reta’s day once again.


Following the completion of the second mile, which came in 9 minutes and 20 seconds, the only challengers to Reta were Kipkoech and eventual 14th- place finisher Julius Kogo.


Both Kipkoech and Kogo continued to run behind Reta and trailed the champion by around 300 meters at the halfway mark.


Crossing back into downtown Parkersburg off W.Va. 95, Reta had a near 40-second advantage over Kipkoech and Kogo.


However, with less than 2 miles left in the race both Kipkoech and Kogo ran off course, which allowed Kenyan Kennett Kiptoo to take second place in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 29 seconds. For that effort, Kiptoo earned $2,000.


“They lost track of Alene and went straight instead of turning,” said race director Chip Allman. “I have no idea how. There are footprints on every turn of the road.”


The bad fortune didn’t bother Kiptoo any as he managed to stay ahead of third place finisher Ketema Nigusse of Ethiopia, who finished nine seconds later and picked up $1,500.


“It was hilly and very tough,” said Kiptoo, who competed in the race for the first time. “It was very inclined.


“I felt good. Next time I will try my best again. Yes, I will come next year. I hope I will come and do something better.”


Fikadu Lemma of Ethiopia won $1,000 for finishing fourth with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 58 seconds. The $500 prize for fifth place honors went to Kenyan Elijah Nyabuti, who was 58 seconds slower than Lemma.


Reta said his plan was to get out early.


“I don’t want to wait on anybody,” he said.


Even with that being said, Reta admitted not having a pack or even a couple of runners near him made it difficult to pound the pavement and strive for a record time.


“It is harder alone to run in the front,” Reta added. “Alone is harder. There is nobody to push you.”


Always a fan favorite, Reta enjoys the Parkersburg community as much if not more than the town likes rooting him on wherever they might be at on the course.


“Hopefully, I’m back again,” Reta said of 2010. “I like the people. Nice people here who support me.


“All of them supporting me along the way, that’s why I come back again to run this race. I honestly enjoy this race always. It’s nice for me.”
 
 

 

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