News section

T he men's road race was equally exciting as Ethiopian Abreham Cherkos, just 18 years old, announced himself in grand fashion as he won in 13:15 in his first U.S. appearance.

Defar, who won the gold medal in the 5000 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics, obliterated the old mark of 14:51, held by Britain's Paula Radcliffe and matched by Ethiopian youngster Tirunesh Dibaba here last year. It marked the 16th world record set over the 21-year history of the famed race that runs along the Pacific Ocean.

"I did not go to the World Cross Country Championships last week because I wanted to break the world record here in Carlsbad," said the 23-year-old, who was met at the finish line by her husband and a cheering crowd of thousands. "I'm very, very happy, it's my fourth time here and I finally did it."

Defar, countrywoman Sentayehu Ejigu, Kenya's Isabella Ochichi and Australia's Benita Johnson separated themselves from the rest of the field early, reaching the first mile in 4:43, four seconds under Dibaba's world record pace from 2005. Seven minutes into the race and turning into the wind, Defar started to surge, opening a small gap between herself and Ochichi, who also set a world record here at Carlsbad (14:53, 2004) and finished second to Defar at the Athens Olympic 5000 meters.

Ochichi, however, was determined to stay in the front. Just over a minute later, Defar started to surge again, opening a five-meter gap, but again Ochichi hung tough. The pair reached the two mile mark in 9:29, a 4:46 mile and six seconds under last year's pace. It became a two-woman race as Johnson and Ejigu fell off the lead pack.

The dueling duo made the final u-turn on Carlsbad Blvd., and with the wind at their back, Defar opened a gap again and this time Ochichi was unable to respond. From then on, it was a solo affair. Running another 4:46 mile, she reached the three-mile mark in 14:15 and knew the record was in sight. Running in front of throngs of cheering spectators, Defar closed with a blazing kick down the homestretch setting her new world record of 14:46, worth $5000 and a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara.

Ochichi finished second in 14:53 (the fastest second place 5K performance all-time), matching her world record that she set at Carlsbad 2004. Ejigu was third (15:17) and Johnson fourth (15:19).

The men's race saw three-time Carlsbad champion and world 5K record holder Sammy Kipketer take the early lead cruising thru the first mile at 4:10 followed by fellow Kenyans Abraham Chebii, Shadrack Kosgei and Boaz Cheboiywo. Cherkos was behind the pack around the first turn. A quarter mile later, Cheboiywo made a move to separate the field and Cherkos went with him. The men were side-by-side at two miles, passing in 8:28 after clocking a 4:18 mile.

That's when the Cherkos made his bold move, immediately putting seven meters on Cheboiywo and further extending his lead all the way to the finish. His winning time of 13:15 was the fifth fastest time ever run at Carlsbad (and the fifth fastest all-time). Cheboiywo finished runner-up 13 seconds back.

More than 8,000 participants competed in nine age-group races, enjoying sunny, cool conditions throughout the day's events.

21st Carlsbad 5000
Carlsbad, CA, Sunday, April 9, 2006

MEN
1) Abreham Cherkos, Ethiopia, 13:15, $5000
2) Boaz Cheboiywo, Kenya, 13:28, $3500
3) Sammy Kipketer, Kenya, 13:31, $2000
4) Ibrahim Gashu, Ethiopia, 13:31, $1000
5) Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya, 13:37, $800
6) Abraham Chebii, Kenya, 13:49, $700
7) Meshack Sang, Kenya, 14:25, $500
8) Maxim Denisova, Russia, 14:46, $400
9) Fidele Baregensabe, Burundi, 15:23, $300

WOMEN
1) Meseret Defar, Ethiopia, 14:46*, $5000 + 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
2) Isabella Ochichi, Kenya, 14:53, $3500
3) Sentayehu Ejigu, Ethiopia, 15:17, $2000
4) Benita Johnson, Australia, 15:19, $1000
5) Edna Kiplagat, Kenya, 15:37, $800
6) Yuri Kano, Japan, 15:54, $700
7) Christin Wurth, USA/AZ, 16:05, $500
8) Amy Yoder Begley, USA/IN, 16:15, $400
9) Irina Vachuk, Ukraine, 16:19, $300
10) Rebby Koech, Kenya, 16:20, $200
*World Record (previous record, 14:51, Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Flora Light Women's, GBR, 09/14/03 and Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH), Carlsbad 5000, CA, 04/03/05)

Masters MEN (40+)
1) Sean Wade, Houston, Texas, 14:53, $1000

Masters WOMEN (40+)
1) Carmen Troncoso, Austin, Texas, 16:50, $1000

source RunningUSA