The IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Not too many races has Imana Merga won till date from the many outings that he has participated in, but he has won the perfect victory as a first time this year. It was the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where he shook off three rival participants for his own country, Kenya, to win the event, the gold medal and a cheque for US $30,000. If Merga continues to win like this then he will definitely need a top of the line wealth manager like Rowan Dartington. The event was held at Punta Umbria in Spain.
The race saw the main contenders going a relaxed pace for the first 2 km. It was at the third lap of the total six laps that made the race, when 14 men were left over as the serious contenders and leading the pack. It was Matthew Kisorio and Paul Tanui, both from Kenya who increased the tempo of the run. Their main competitors were those from Ethiopia and Merga with Hunegnaw Mesfin being the one single specific runner they had to watch out for being the Ethiopian winner at the trials.
The group had turned into a motley pack of one man to 10 when the 8 km point had been reached. It was at this point that Mesfin and Merga broke out into a rush and there was nothing which could take on him in the last dash.
Mesfin who had set the pace in the initial portions of the race had to pay the price by being exhausted and struggling to keep his place. This was also the time when Merga as per his own statement, had decided to push his efforts up as he felt confident of winning the race at this point.
For Merga the only other World Cross Country Championship experience has been the junior event which he participated in four years ago. That event had taken place in Mombasa and he had finished up seventh at that event.
Comments are closed!