Leonard Komon – Berlin 10k 2012
Leonard Komon and Anna Hahner took the ASICS Grand 10 in Berlin on Sunday. For the Kenyan it was the third win in a row at this race and once again he achieved a world-class time. The 24 year-old clocked 27:46 minutes while Germany’s new distance running hope Anna Hahner ran 33:50.
Course record holder Leonard Komon, who had run 27:12 in 2010 and then 27:15 a year ago in this race, took the lead early on. It was in the fifth kilometre when he left behind his rivals. Komon then passed the 5 k mark in a very quick time of 13:34 minutes. But during the second half of the race the wind was blowing into the face of the 10 k world record holder (26:44) and he could not keep his high pace. In the end he missed his goal of setting a world lead – this time stands at 27:29 minutes – by 17 seconds. Leonard Komon’s 27:46 still is a very fast time, the tenth fastest in the year so far. “It was a pitty that the wind was so strong in the second half. I think I will come back to the ASICS Grand 10 once again next year to give it another try,” said Leonard Komon.
The next two runners behind Leonard Komon also clocked fine times: In a sprint finish for second place David Kogei (Kenya) just edged out his fellow countryman Richard Mengich. Both runners were given the same time of 27:56, which are personal bests for the two. Kennedy Kimutai (28:14) and Alex Korio (28:15/both Kenya) followed in fourth and fifth places.
Only two weeks after clocking 2:30:37 for eighth place in the Berlin Marathon Anna Hahner returned to the German capital. This time she was number one. The 22 year-old showed a fine race, clocking 33:50 minutes. She was well ahead of Lucie Sekanova (Czech Republic/34:23) and Lisabeth Wagner (Germany/36:22). “It was going well for me, although obviously I felt that I was not that fresh just two weeks after the marathon. But I am happy with my race and enjoyed the atmosphere,” said Anna Hahner, who has a marathon PB of 2:30:14 from her debut in Düsseldorf earlier in the year.
“The ASICS Grand 10 have developed well. We have established the race as a top 10 k event. Unfortunately the wind prevented faster times today,” said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky. Organisers registered a record entry for the fifth edition with 7,225 runners.
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