News Desk, News Nation 360 : The Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race, made history once more when Daniel Simiu Ebenyo of Kenya and Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia broke the event records in the men's and women's categories, respectively, setting fast times to finish in 1.11:13 and 1.18:47. The previous world records for the stand-alone 25K race were 1:11:18 by Dennis Kimetto (2012) and 1:19:53 by Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (2010), both from Kenya, although the 25K is not currently listed as a distance for the official world records. Leonard Barsoton of Kenya set the event record for the men's category at the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K with a time of 1:12:49, while Desi Jisa of Bahrain set the record for the women with a time of 1:21:04. Victor Kipruto Togom (Kenya), who finished second and beat the previous event record with 1:12:26, was followed in third place by Tesfaye Demeke (1:13:36) of Ethiopia. Togom attempted to pass him during that stretch, but Ebenyo held him off. After 19 kilometres (59:12), he picked up more speed and broke away to finish the race alone. In the women's race, Kebede overtook Yehualaw to take second place. Ethiopian Yalemzerf
Yehualaw, 24, who placed third at the 2020 World Half-Marathon Championships, made her debut at the 25-kilometer race in Kolkata and received pre-race advice indicating she would win. Sutume Asefa Kebede, her teammate, had other ideas, though. Kebede, who just turned 29, did not share Yehualaw's notable accomplishments on the international scene. Eight years ago in Berlin, Kebede made history by winning the Big-25 with a time of 1:21:55, which was thought to be among the best at the time. Running only her second race at this distance, Kebede held the lead until the very end of the race with her countrymate, applying pressure in the final kilometre to win in 1:18:47. Yehualaw (1:19:26) and Betty Chepkemoi Kibet (1:21:43) from Kenya completed their races after her. Even though the three women who ran faster than her did so while training for a marathon, her time was the fourth fastest by a female runner at this distance.
With timings of 1:17:49 and 1:30:38, respectively, Sawan Barwal and Reshma Kevate emerged victorious in the men's and women's categories on Sunday. With the Indian Elite men and women winning equal amounts of money, the first three in each race took home INR 2,75,000, INR 2,00,000, and INR 1,50,000, respectively. Gaurav Mathur (1:20:33) was pushed to second place by Sawan, and MD Aseem (1:42:08) was placed in third. Seema placed second in the women's division with a time of 1:32:07, and Nirmaben Thakor Bharatjee took third place with a time of 1:32:40. On this cold December morning, 17,557 runners built the heat across the lush greens of Kolkata Maidan as they lined up shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe, in one of India's largest running spectacles. The venue witnessed the presence of Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal C.V. Ananda Bose, World Champion Hurdler and Event Ambassador Colin Jackson, Hon'ble Minister of Fire and Emergency Services and MLA of Bidhannagar Sujit Bose, Former Indian Cricketer Jhulan Goswami, MMIC Debasish Kumar and other dignitaries.
It so happened that the winning times for a stand-alone 25-kilometre race were "World Bests." Speaking after the win, Ebenyo became very emotional and expressed that by God's grace, he was able to surpass the event record here by doing something special. He had appreciated being invited there by the authorities. He also dedicated this victory to his girlfriend, whose inspiration and encouragement have brought him this far. Speaking after a thrilling win, Sawan, who won the bronze medal at the Asian Half Marathon Championship 2023, said that the weather was ideal for racing—it was cool, flat, and pleasant. The timing and finish at the podium pleased him. His new goal is to place highly in the Mumbai Marathon in 2024. Reshma was ecstatic to reach the podium at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2023, where she placed 19th with a time of 34:38. On this cold December morning, 17,557 runners built the heat across the lush greens of Kolkata Maidan as they lined up shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe, in one of India's largest running spectacles.
Pic - Krishnendu Kundu & Anustup Kundu
