Leonard Patrick Komon dominates field at 28th Cross Internacional Valle de Llodio – Athletics news
Kenyan athlete, Leonard Patrick Komon captured victory at the 28th Cross Internacional Valle de Llodio, in Llodio, Spain, on November 27. The athlete finished the distance in a brilliant time of 29 minutes and 15 seconds, over a competitive field
of runners.
The Men’s 9.79 km started and Komon commenced the race with a conservative approach, as he stayed out of the top-ten runners, until the first kilometre was covered. The early leaders in the race were Spain’s Álvaro Lozano and the 40-year-old Chema Martínez,
who reached the 3000m point in 9 minutes and 7 seconds. From there, Komon ran 60m behind the head of the race. He joined the main group with absolute easiness just before the halfway.
Komon covered the subsequent 2.1 km laps in a combined time of 6 minutes and 33 seconds, and 6 minutes and 23 seconds, respectively. Furthermore, he took over the lead with 2 laps to go. From there, he injected an attacking pace, as his main-line contenders,
Bett, Abraha and Sium began to lose ground gradually.
Tadese was the only competitor, who managed to make up with Komon’s approach. Komon continued with a gradual increase in pace and cleared the second last lap, in a brilliant time of 6 minutes and 1 second.
The final lap was a decisive one, as Tadese propelled the pace to counter Komon’s surge towards the finish line. Tadese’s long strides were not enough to distract the leading runner, Komon. After an intense battle, Tadese had to settle for the second place,
whereas, Komon crossed the finishing line to clinch the top spot.
Komon cleared the distance in a winning time of 29 minutes and 15 seconds. After an impressive effort in the race, Komon said, “I decided to run quietly in the early stages and open up the gas only in the second half. Today’s victory has not been a very
difficult one. I look forward to compete in more XC races in January. In the absence of the Cross Country World championships I’ll be focused on the Olympic Games, I hope to make the Kenyan team for the 10,000m event”.
Tadese completed the course in a decent time of 29 minutes and 17 seconds. The third spot was taken by Josphat Bett, who covered the route in 29 minutes and 28 seconds.
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