Kenyans Take Top Honors At Quad-City Times Bix 7

Courtesy Quad-City Times

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Unlike most of the runners from Kenya who compete on the United States road running circuit, Silas Kipruto (left, Quad-City Times photo) is tall enough to pass for a basketball player.

And on Saturday, July 30, he pretty much slam-dunked the rest of the field in the 2011 Quad-City Times Bix 7.
The 6-foot-4 Kipruto slipped into the lead just before the halfway mark of the race, then thoroughly dominated the second half on his way to an 11-second victory over a pack of fellow Kenyans.

He earned $12,500 for his victory, which he said was more difficult than his recent triumph in the Wharf to Wharf 6-miler in California. His winning time of 32 minutes, 36 seconds tied for the 50th best in the history of the race.

Four Kenyans followed Kipruto across the finish line, led by Allan Kiprono, who led for much of the first half of the race. Lani Rutto was third, Shadrack Kosgei fourth and Linus Chumba, another early-pace-setter, was fifth.

The top American finisher was Abdi Abdirahman, who took sixth in his second Bix appearance. He was second in 2002.

In the women’s race, Caroline Rotich took control of the women’s field near the midpoint of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 and never looked back. The 27-year-old Kenyan covered the seven-mile course through the streets of Davenport in 36 minutes, 42 seconds to top fellow Kenyan Jelliah Tinega by 1:04. “I was with a pack (including Tinega and Janet Cherobon-Bawcom) near the turnaround and I was able to get ahead and I just took off,’’ Rotich said. “After that, I never slowed down.’’

Rotich’s winning time was the fastest for a female competitor at the Bix 7 since Susan Chepkemei of Kenya established a course record with her winning time in 2004. A first-time entry in the Bix 7 and fourth-place finisher in this year’s Boston Marathon, Rotich said she felt strong from the start in a race that served as a tune-up for the World Championships. Tinega finished in 37:46 while Diane Nukuri-Johnson, a former University of Iowa runner from Burundi, took third in 37:59. Madai Perez of Mexico was fourth in 38:33.

For photo galleries, video and more from the race, visit http://qctimes.com

37th Quad-City Times Bix 7
Davenport, IA, Saturday, July 30, 2011
MEN
1. Silas Kipruto, KEN 32:36   $12,500
2. Allen Kiprono, KEN 32:47   $4,000
3. Lani Rutto, KEN  33:09  $2,500
4. Shadrack Kosgei, KEN 33:21 $1,500
5. Linus Chumba, KEN 33:32   $1,000
6. Abdi Abdirahman, USA  33:47  $900
7. Ian Burrell, USA 33:54   $800
8. Samuel Nedereba, KEN  34:00  $700
9. Abdelaziz Atmani, USA 34:16 $600
10. Christo Landry, USA  34:19  $500

WOMEN

1. Caroline Rotich, KEN 36:42   $12,500
2. Jelliah Tinega, KEN 37:46   $4,000
3. Diane Nukuri-Johnson, BDI  37:59  $2,500
4. Madai Perez, MEX 38:33   $1,500
5. Catherine Ndereba, KEN  38:42  $1,000
6. Misiker Mekonnin, ETH  38:43  $900
7. Everlynne Lagat, KEN  38:55 $800
8. Clara Grandt, USA  39:36  $700
9. Gladys Asiba, KEN  40:54  $600
10. Erin Moeller, USA   40:59 $500