Edris ends Merga’s Streak in Bolzano

Ethiopian distance-running star Muktar Edris won a dramatic men’s 10km race at the 40th edition of the Boclassic, edging three-time winner Imane Merga by 0.2 after a close sprint into the finish-line in front of no fewer than 10,000 enthusiastic spectators who packed the beautiful Walther Square in the centre of Bolzano on Wednesday (31).

While there was an Ethiopian 1-2 in the men’s race, Kenyan athletes filled the top two spots in the women’s 5km race as African 5000m bronze medallist Janet Kisa finished a second ahead of compatriot Peris Jepchirchir.

The men’s race began to heat up at halfway when top Italian runner Stefano La Rosa took the lead ahead of an eight-man group which included Edris, Merga, New Zealand’s Zane Robertson, Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, 2008 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Edwin Soi, former European cross-country champion Andrea Lalli, European marathon champion Daniele Meucci, and Ahmed El Mazoury. The lead pack reached half way in 14:54, after which La Rosa moved to the front.

Read more at: IAAF.org