Prague, Czech Republic, September 08—Prague is where teen Rhonex Kipruto burst on the scene last year, running a 27:13 to place 3rd at the Birell GP. This season, now all of 18, the Kenyan star has clearly put himself on an entirely new level on the course through the Czech capital. After running with the pack for the first half (13:30), Kipruto took off on his own, blitzing the second half in 13:16 to miss the World Record by just 2 seconds with his 26:46. He did crush his own World Junior Record by 22 seconds.
This comes at the end of a season of superlatives that started with the 27:08 WJR in New York in April. In July he won the World Junior gold with his 27:21.08 on the track. “I was the only one pushing it,” said Kipruto, as Geoffrey Koech finished in 27:18, Mathew Kimeli 27:26. “No one assisted me to push it.”
The Kenyan-dominated women’s race was a bit more suspenseful, after a quick early start brought Fancy Chemutai to 5K in 14:48 and raised hopes of a record. However Chemutai lost her momentum and was reeled in by Caroline Kipkirui and Diana Kipyokei. The race came down to the kick, with Kipkirui—who was 4th in the Zürich 5000—outlegging Chemutai, 30:19–30:22, Kipyokei a step back in 30:23. The winner moved to No. 5 on the all-time list.
PRAGUE MEN’S 10K RESULTS
Prague, Czech Republic, September 08 (certified loop)—
1. Rhonex Kipruto (Ken) 26:46 WJR (old WJR 27:08 Kipruto ’18) (2, 2 W) (course record—old cr 27:10 Benard Kimeli [Ken] ’17) (€10,000/c$11,500);
2. Geoffrey Koech (Ken) 27:18 PR; 3. Mathew Kimeli (Ken) 27:26; 4. Abraham Kipyatich (Ken) 27:38 PR; 5. Benard Kibet
Lagat (Ken) 27:40 PR; 6. Peter Kwemoi (Ken) 27:44 PR; 7. Hicham Amghar (Mor) 27:46 PR; 8. Benard Kimeli (Ken) 27:50;
9. Berta Belihu (Eth) 27:54 PR; 10. Vedic Kipkoech (Ken) 27:57 PR; 11. Josphat Kiptoo Chumo (Ken) 27:58 PR.
PRAGUE WOMEN’S 10K RESULTS
1. Caroline Kipkirui (Ken) 30:19 PR (5, x W) (€8000/c$9400);
2. Fancy Chemutai (Ken) 30:22; 3. Diana Chemtai Kipyokei (Ken) 30:23 PR; 4. Dorcas Jepchirchir Tuitoek (Ken) 31:17; 5. Perine Nenkampi (Ken) 31:25 PR; 6.Rosemary Wanjiru (Ken) 31:34 PR; 7. Loice Chemnung (Ken) 31:50 PR; 8. Sarah Van Der Wielen (Swe) 32:23; 9. Yuka Takashima (Jpn) 32:26. □