Ethiopian runner defends title at 10-K Jakarta Run

JAKARTA (JP): Addis Abebe of Ethiopia retained his title at the eighth Bob Hasan 10-K Run, with Ann Marie Letko of the United States winning the women's event in her first attempt.

There was no serious competition for this years leaders with the withdrawal of Olympic 10,000-meter champion Khalid Skah of Morroco, and world class, women runners from China.

Abebe, who won with a 27 minutes and 43 seconds finish, was three hundredths of a second slower than his last victory when he broke the seven-year-old world 10-K record.

He is a four-time winner of the annual road race. In his first and second wins, in 1990 and 1991, the race was staged in the vicinity of the ancient Buddhist temple of Borobudur near Yogyakarta. His second two victories, in 1993 and this year, were both in Jakarta.

Abebe received US$ 25,000 for this year's victory. Last year he received an extra $500,000 for breaking the world's record.

The 10-K race, which is known as "the world's richest run," was organized by president of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association Federation (AAAF) and timber tycoon, Bob Hasan.

Unchallenged from the gunshot, the Ethiopian runner surged ahead to lead the race held around the Senayan sports complex in the early hours of the day and never looked back.

Indonesian top long distance runner Eduardus Nabunone finished second at 30:32, while US Shanon Butler took third at 30:37. Nabunone and Butler respectively grabbed the $12,000 and $7,500 prizes.

Nabunome's time was slower than when he ran in Bali in 1988 where he clocked 29:15.10.

Local runners comprised the rest of the top 20 men's finishers, with the exception of 16th place, which was taken by Singaporean runner A. Saravana at 33:50.

In the women's competition, Letko reached the finish line at 32:45, far from challenging the world record set by Scotland's Elizabeth McColgan at 31:07 in 1987. Still, she received her $20,000 in well-earned prize money for the first place finish.

Indonesian runner Ruwiyati, 16, clocked 35:26 to take the second place and a $10,000 prize.

Andriyani clocked 41:03 to take third place in the women's race and pocketed $5,000. (rsl)

Selected results Men 1. Addis Abebe (Ethi) 27 mins and 43 secs 2. Eduardus Nabunome (Ina) 30:32 3. Shanon Butler (USA) 30:37 4. Hasanudin (Ina) 30:43 5. Osias Kamle (Ina) 30:57 Women 1. Ann Marie Letko (USA) 32:45 2. Ruwiyati (Ina) 35:26 3. Andriyani (Ina) 41:03 4. Rukini Wardoyo (Ina) 42:44 5. Israk (Ina) 43:20