Micah Kogo Captures Close Victory Over Ben True at 2013 Falmouth Road Race
Runner-Up True Earns Highest American Finish In Five Years
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
FALMOUTH, MASS. (11-Aug) — Kenya’s Micah Kogo won his second road race titles in eight days, breaking the tape first here at the 41st New Balance Falmouth Road Race.
In order to claim victory today, Kogo had to overcome a surprise challenge from American Ben True and dig deep in the final kilometers here along Vineyard Sound.
After the horn sounded in Woods Hole and 12,800 athletes made their way out of the quaint harbor side village in various waves, a ten-man pack formed that would dwindle down to five by the four mile mark. Joining Kogo –the 2007race champion– was fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai and Americans Abdi Abdirahman, Ben True, and Ben Bruce.
Together the group would stay together up and down the rolling course until they neared the ten kilometer mark. With Bruce fading slightly, the quartet of Kogo, Mutai, Abdirahman, and True pushed on.
Noticing True alongside, Kogo was surprised to see an unfamiliar American sticking tough in the last mile. Admittedly, Kogo didn’t know who True was despite his 13:11.59, 5000m track credentials.
“The white guy, I knew when he stayed the last kilometer, I knew it was going to be anybody’s race,” said Kogo. “I know some strong white guys like Ryan Hall and so many others. But today I didn’t know this guy who was strongtoday. He stayed with us until the last kilometer.”
After Abdirahman faded with less than a kilometer to go, it was down to Kogo, True, and Mutai. Kogo made his decisive move on the final, steep uphill that crests with little more than 600 meters remaining.
“I made my final break when I saw the last hill, then I knew when I finish this hill I have a little bit then the finish,” said the experienced Kogo. In that break, he was able to gain a step on True and even more on Mutai, the London Marathon course record holder.
Sprinting down the final stretch under a large American flag, Kogo claimed the victory in 32:09.1. True was a step behind in 32:11.2.
With the same smile that showed last week when he won the TD Beach to Beacon 10-K, Kogo broke the tape and exclaimed his love for the area.
“I like running here because I love the people along the beach who are so welcoming,” he said. “I want to thank everyone.”
True was just as happy, becoming the highest placing American since 2008, when Meb Keflezighi finished second.
“Kogo jumped me cresting the last hill,” he said. “But it was a good race.”
When told of Kogo’s awe in seeing a white man alongside him towards the end of the race, True laughed and said it was a compliment.
“I’m definitely improving every year and hopefully I’ll be able to come back and win it,” he said.
Mutai wound up third in 32:19.9, followed by Abdirahman in fourth, timing 32:28.4.
“I made a mistake on the two hills. The first I thought was the last so I went for broke and I broke and turned and then said “Ahhh!” admitted Abdirahman, talking about the reason why he faded in the final stretch. “That’s OK though, I was happy with my performance.”
Flagstaff, Ariz.’s Bruce rounded out the top five, timing 32:44.0. Results below.
Women’s Race: Joyce Chepkirui Runs Away With 2013 Falmouth Road Race Women’s Title.
Ben True at Stanford earlier this year
Results
MEN (Extended Net Times) –
1. Micah Kogo, 27, KEN 32:09.1 $10,000
2. Ben True, 27, Hanover, NH 32:11.2 7,500 + 5,000a
3. Emmanuel Mutai, 28, KEN 32:19.9 5,000
4. Abdi Abdirahman, 36, Tucson, AZ 32:28.4 3,500 + 3,000a
5. Ben Bruce, 30, Flagstaff, AZ 32:44.0 2,000 + 2,000a
6. Shadrack Biwott, 28, Eugene, OR 33:14.8 1,000a
7. Harbert Okuti, 27, UGA 33:18.1
8. Zach Hine, 25, Boulder, CO 33:18.1 500a
9. Tim Ritchie, 26, Brighton, MA 33:23.3
10. Dino Sefir, 25, ETH 33:43.7
11. Luke Puskedra, 23, Salt Lake City, UT 33:48
12. Kevin Castille, 41, Lafayette, LA 34:01 1,000m
13. Sean Quigley, 28, Braintree, MA 34:10
14. Mykola Labovskyy, 30, UKR 34:44
15. Christopher Zablocki, 25, Essex, CT 34:55
16. C Fred Joslyn, 29, East Syracuse, NY 36:09
17. Mike Fisher, 29, Brookline, MA 36:16
18. Steve Polito, 23, Worcester, MA 36:24
19. Will Leer, 28, Ann Arbor, MI 36:35
20. Matthew Herzig, 18, Weston, MA 36:44
21. Michael Moverman, 22, North Easton, MA 36:57
22. Matt Klein, 19, Trumbull, CT 37:03
23. Louis Serafini, 21, Brookline, MA 37:32
24. Kevin Quadrozzi, 25, Chestnut Hill, MA 37:37
25. Sam Lagasse, 19, Woodbridge, CT 37:49
26. Mathew Weissinger, 26, Northampton, MA 37:49
27. Joe McGovern, 25, Allston, MA 37:56
28. Chris Magill, 40, Cumberland, RI 37:58 500m
29. Timothy Catoggio, 27, South Boston, MA 37:59
30. Teddy Farley, 21, Acton, MA 38:01
m= Earned Masters Prize Money
a= Earned American Prize Money