S-HEERENBERG, December 7- Dennis Kimetto made a low-key return to racing in first outing since breaking the marathon world record and finished a modest 13th at the Montferland Run over 15km in the Dutch town of ‘s-Heerenberg on Sunday (7).
Kimetto crossed the line in 47:00, clearly not taking the race too seriously, and came home more than three minutes behind the Eritrean winner Miskel Tewelde, who won in 43:27.
Kenya’s Nobert Kigen and Geoffrey Koech were second and third in 43:32 and 43:43 respectively.
It has become something of a tradition for men’s marathon world record breakers to then get back to racing with an appearance at the Montferland Run.
After Kimetto’s compatriot Wilson Kipsang broke the mark last year, he made the Montferland Run his next race, just as did Haile Gebrselassie did in 2007; but while the Ethiopian legend won in ‘s-Heerenberg in 2007, Kipsang finished a distant fifth 12 month ago.
For the first time ever in the event’s 18-year history, both marathon world record holders were present Paula Radcliffe took part and finished fifth in the women’s race in 52:48.
Having battled with a long-term foot injury over the past few years, the multiple world champion on the roads and cross country earlier this autumn made a low-key return to racing in a quest to be fit enough to contest next year’s London Marathon.
Ethiopia’s Askale Merachi won in 50:44 with the local pair of Irene van Lieshout and Kim Dillen battling for second and third and finishing in 51:59 and 52:00 respectively.
