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Video - Great Eastern Run 2008: Chebon wins in the city's fastest ever time
William Chebon recorded the fastest half-marathon ever seen in Peterborough on Sunday (12 October) then vowed to return and run even faster next year.
William Chebon recorded the fastest half-marathon ever seen in Peterborough on Sunday (12 October) then vowed to return and run even faster next year.The Kenyan ace won the Great Eastern Run in 62.57, despite being on his own for the last nine miles.
He may have missed out on the 200 bonus for a sub-62 minute time but there was no wiping the smile off the 27 year-old's face.
"It was a great race and I'd love to come back next year and run even faster," he said.
"It was a very flat course, it wasn't too twisty and the spectators kept cheering me so I really enjoyed it.
"The plan was for Raymond Tonui and I to run together and push each other but he dropped back after four miles and I found myself on my own.
"But it wasn't a problem being on my own and I was hopeful of running quicker, but I slowed a bit over the second half."
As expected, the African trio of Chebon, Tonui and Ezekeil Cherop were soon clear as they blasted through the opening mile in 4.33.
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The pace picked up in the next mile which saw Cherop, winner of last month's Robin Hood Half-marathon in Nottingham, dropping behind his fellow Africans.
Running along Nabs Lane in Paston, Chebon – winner of last month's Swansea Bay 10k – opened a small gap on Tonui but they were soon back together again.
But it wasn't for long as Chebon, who has a personal best of 60.53 set in Italy two years ago, soon pushed on again and by four miles it was becoming clear he would have a lonely run to the finish.
Through five miles in 23.01, Chebon was well inside schedule to win the 200 bonus but his next five miles took more than a minute longer and by now a time between 62 and 63 minutes was looking more likely.
Despite beginning to run mile splits outside five minutes, Chebon was never in danger of losing his commanding lead and no-one else was in sight as he crossed the line to secure the 750 first prize.
His time was more than half-a-minute quicker than the previous fastest Great Eastern Run – 63.30 by former Olympic marathon representative Steve Brace in 1995 – and also bettered the 63.07 that Julis Kibet of Kenya ran to win the 2003 AMP International Half-marathon.
Tonui, who last year shared first place with his uncle – former Great North Run winner John Mutai – was equally comfortable in second with Cherop in third.
First Englishman was Newham and Essex Beagles member Kevin Skinner who finished fourth in 67.26, despite stopping with a stitch after seven miles.
Skinner took maximum points as far as the East Road Race Grand Prix was concerned but Andy Hennessy – the orthapaedic surgeon who left work at Peterborough District at 10.30am after being on call for 24 hours – leads the series with one race remaining.
Hennessy finished sixth, just a week after winning the Jersey Marathon.
There were 2,723 starters and 2,705 finishers as the city council once again put on a race that Peterborough can be proud of.
Continues on next page, plus leading results and timesNOT surprisingly, Nene Valley Harriers were the best local club but Bourne Town Harriers were not far behind.
Former Evening Telegraph reporter Jonny Muir set a personal best of 78.23 for 44th position to lead Nene Valley to third team overall behind Ely Runners and Cambridge and Coleridge.
Steve Reid, Nick Holt – who is preparing for next month's New York City Marathon – and Steve Medhurst were also in the Nene Valley scoring quartet.
Bourne, led by former elite racing cyclist Mark Botteley in 56th place, were fourth team and 56 points behind Nene Valley.
London club Serpentine Runners were the leading women's team from March Athletic Club, for whom Katie Ward had a good run in 1.33.40.
Veterans Debra Wait and Sue Irving ran in together less than a minute behind Ward for the current Cambs Road League women's leaders.
Great Eastern Run 2008: Leading results
Pos. Name (Club) Time
1. William Chebon (Kenya) 62.57
2. Raymond Tonui (Kenya) 64.35
3. Ezekeil Cherop (Kenya) 66.00
4. Kevin Skinner (Newham) 67.26
5. Neil Addison (Shaftesbury) 67.45
6. Andy Hennessy (Wells) 68.11
7. Wayne Lincoln (Norwich) 69.55
8. Paul Marchant (Rothwell) 70.02
9. Philip Critchlow (Beaumont) 70.55
10. Chris Smith (Thames Valley) 71.27
11. Jo Wilkinson (Bedford) 72.36
12. Joyce Kandia (Kenya) 73.04
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