Dam tot Damloop 2012
Leonard Komon won the 28th Dam tot Damloop on Sunday. He finished in 44.48, under ideal circumstances. The 24-year-old Kenyan top runner was more than 20 seconds short of Haile Gebrselassie’s world best time. But he did run the best time of 2012 by far. Sylvia Kibet won in the women’s section. The track athlete debuted at the Dam tot Damloop and was too fast for the competition in the final sprint. She clocked 51.42.
Early in the race, Komon showed that he possessed the best legs. After 19 minutes he separated himself apart from the field and ran with a smooth stride towards Zaandam. Daniel Chebii went on the attack, but in vain. Komon, who also won last year, travelled to Amsterdam with a purpose: to run the world’s best time. After the finish he was therefore very disappointed: “The weather was good this year. I do not know where it went wrong”. He said, confused. “I’m going to go home and think about the cause.” He will realise later that this is an excellent achievement. Daniel Chebii finished second (45.02). Abera Kuma took third place (45.28).
The Dutch chose to work together and mingled as a duo between the African running force. That paid off. Jesper van der Wielen and Khalid Choukoud helped each other to an amazingly good time, the former being the first to cross the finish line in 47.03. Chouckoud followed six seconds later. Tom Wiggers and Abdi Nageeye followed in 48.00 and 48.54. Michel Butter began his race after he had run 24 km in preparation for the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, and was pleased to return in the direction of Castricum after 48.59 minutes.
In the women’s field the group remained longer together. The battle in the final kilometres was between Sylvia Kibet, Bezunesh Bekele and Esther Chemtai. The fast track athlete, Sylvia Kibet smartly waited until the last 400 meters with the final sprint. The competition had no answer. Time: 51.42. Bekele finished second (51.45) and Chemtai finished third (51.54). “This gives me a taste for more,” beamed Sylvia Kibet afterwards. We will be encountering her more often in the future. Hilda Kibet was fourth and first Dutch woman in 52.45. She sounded happy afterwards, because she ran a marathon only six weeks ago. She also gave to understand that she is in preparation for the New York Marathon.
Top 5 Men total
1. Leonard Komon, Kenya, 44.48
2. Daniel Chebii, Kenya, 45.02
3. Abera Kuma, Ethiopia, 45.28
4. Hillary Kipchumba, Kenya, 45.37
5. Timothy Kiptoo, Kenya, 46.10
Top 5 Women total
1. Sylvia Kibet, Kenya, 51.42
2. Bezunesh Bekele, Ethiopia, 51.45
3. Esther Chemtai, Kenya, 51.54
4. Hilda Kibet, Netherlands, 52.45
5. Josephine Chepkoech, Kenya, 53.17
Top 5 Men Netherlands
1. Jesper van der Wielen, 47.03
2. Khalid Choukoud, 47.09
3. Tom Wiggers, 48.00
4. Abdi Nageeye, 48.54
5. Michel Butter, 48.59
Top 5 Women Netherlands
1. Hilda Kibet, 52.45
2. Andrea Deelstra, 56.20
3. Jill Holterman, 56.27
4. Ilse Pol, 56.29
5. Mariska Kramer, 56.48
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