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Friday, August 12, 2016

Women's Olympic 10k 2016



Mr. Cynical finds it difficult to believe anymore in amazing world record performances without PED’s, but I'm trying. Over 30 women began the race, it was ridiculously crowded at the start and then the lead 10 or so had to constantly weave in and out of slower runners for five miles when they began lapping people.

Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia won handily, breaking away from the the leading 8-10 women at 5k and clicking off consistent 68-70 second laps. She broke a long-standing world record (set in 1993) by 14 seconds winning with a time of 29:17 (4:42 per mile) only her 2nd 10k race ever. She ran negative splits and won by 15 seconds. Ayana has run a 5k in 14:12, so running the first half of this race in 14:46 was not extreme for her.

Second place was Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, 29:32, third Tirunish Dibaba 29:42 (Ethiopia), fourth another Kenyan in 29:54. Only 5 women had gone under 30 minutes in history before today. Fifth place, in 30:07, was another Kenyan.

Molly Huddle set the American record, 30:13, finishing in sixth place. Huddle ran a great race. She went through the first 5k just 13 seconds slower than her American record for that distance.

So maybe conditions were right, and not drugs. Lots of fast times. If it’s on tv tonight watch it, though I'm sure NBC will cut away during significant times in the race.

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