Vivian Cheruiyot Prevails In Italy’s Boclassic Silvesterlauf

The race was closer than expected.

The world champion in the 5000m and 10,000m events, Vivian Cheruiyot, ended the year with a bang at the 37th edition of the Boclassic Silvesterlauf in Bolzano, Italy. The 28-year-old Kenyan held off 20-year-old Ethiopian rival Afera Godfay in a unusually close race with both runners being awarded the same finishing time (16:03) for the 5K distance.

“I started my preparation later than last year and I have been training for one month,” said Cheruiyot. “It was not a good race but I am happy with my second win in Bolzano. I would like to return next year with the Olympic gold medal in the bag.”

Cheruiyot went on to add that she will not be competing in the World Indoor Championships in March.

In the men’s 10K race, Olympic bronze medalist in the 5000m, Edwin Soi, was victorious. His winning time was 28:16, while second place went to Wilson Kiprop who came in one second after him.

“It was a very hard race in the last lap,” Soi admitted afterwards.

For More: IAAF