SUPERB 26:46 10-K FOR RHONEX KIPRUTO AT BIRELL GRAND PRIX
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2018 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(08-Sep) -- The reigning IAAF World U20 10,000m champion, Rhonex Kipruto of Kenya, set the streets of Prague on fire tonight, blasting a solo 26:46 at the Birell Grand Prix, a certified, record-eligible 10-K.  That mark was the second-fastest in history, eclipsed only by Leonard Patrick Komon's 26:44 world record.

Kipruto, who last April ran a 27:08 USA all-comers record at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10-K in New York, blasted from the start tonight, hitting the first 5 km point in 13:31.  Remarkably, he came back in the second half in an unthinkable 13:15 to smash the previous course record of 27:10 set by compatriot Benard Kimeli at last year's race.  All of the top-10 men tonight broke 28 minutes, including second place Geoffrey Koech (27:18) and third place Mathew Kimeli (27:26).  Kimeli is Kipruto's training partner under coach Br. Colm O'Connell.

Kipruto won € 10,000 in prize money and time bonuses, but had he broke the world record he would have received a € 20,000 bonus.

The results of the women's race were also outstanding.  Caroline Kipkirui, also of Kenya, ran a personal best 30:19, making her the fifth-fastest woman on a record-eligible 10-K course in history. Fancy Chemutai of Kenya was second in 30:22, followed by compatriot Diana Chemtai Kipyokei in 30:23.  Kipkirui won € 8000 in prize money and bonuses.

The Birell Grand Prix is an IAAF Gold Label road race.

PHOTO: Rhonex Kipruto runs the second fastest 10-K of all time at the 2018 Birell Grand Prix in Prague: 26:46 (photo courtesy of RunCzech)

PHOTO: Caroline Kipkirui wins the 2018 Birell Grand Prix in Prague in a personal best 30:19 (photo courtesy of RunCzech)