Sambu And Daska Prevail At B.A.A. 10K

Thousands turned out in Boston for the first road race since that city’s marathon.

Lots of exciting racing action took place last Saturday on the Boston Common, with Kenya’s Stephen Sambu and Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska taking honors at the annual B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association) 10K.

According to an official B.A.A. press release, conditions at the event were warm (in the 80s).

Sambu clocked 28 minutes and 6 seconds, defeating 2013 Boston champion Lelisa Desisa by eight seconds.

“Somebody called my name,” Sambu recalled afterwards. “I don’t know who it was. Somebody said ‘Stephen! Arizona!’ I just graduated from Arizona.”

Sambu continued: ““This will give me confidence now to come back to run the half marathon,” Sambu said. “That will make me just work really hard, because I want to maintain [the lead].”

Aaron Braun was the first American across the line in 29:59 — good for seventh place.

Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Daska lead from wire to wire. The Ethiopian crossed the finish in 31:45, making her the second-fastest finisher in the race’s history.