Geb’s gaffe turns out all right
A nearly missed turned wasn’t enough to deter Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet from breaking the tape in yesterday’s BAA 5K.
Gebrhiwet nearly missed the final turn onto Charles Street, but recovered quickly and was able to outduel four-time champion Ben True and Waltham’s Tommy Curtin for the victory in perfect cool, calm conditions. The thousands of spectators, who lined the final stretch to cheer on the more than 10,000 participants, were treated to the first three finishers all clocking a time of 13 minutes, 42 seconds. The time was well off True’s course and American record of 13:20 set last year.
Gebrhiwet collected $7,500 in prize money for the win, as did Buze Diriba of Ethiopa, who captured the women’s title in 15:22.
Gebrhiwet looked at the gaffe near the finish as a slight hiccup so he wasn’t about to panic.
“I got confused,” said Gebrhiwet. “I didn’t know where to turn. That’s why I made a mistake. I trained very well. Even though I made a mistake, God helped me. The time was not good but I made it through.”
A tight pack of 12 runners passed the mile on Commonwealth Avenue in a quick, but not blistering time of 4:32 with True, Daniel Salel of Kenya and Curtin fronting the group.
Curtin was feeling especially strong and ran aggressively to keep the pace solid.
“I was right behind them (at the finish),” said Curtin. “They put maybe 3-5 meters on me that last mile. I was leading it for the first mile and I knew it was going to be a just under 14 (minute) race. I needed top five. If I was out of the top five I definitely would have been unhappy with it. Top five is good, but top three is better.”
True and Salel were joined by Philip Langat (fifth, 13:48) and former Northeastern All-American Eric Jenkins (fourth, 13:44). True began to force the pace on Boylston Street and the lead group was down to 12 runners at 2 miles (9:01) courtesy of a 4:29 split.
It was Curtin’s turn to take the pace shortly past Berkeley Street and he pulled Gebrhiwet and True away from the group in the process. The three were right there at the finish with a surging Jenkins two steps back.
True was disappointed that his kick fell short against Gebrhiwet over the final straightaway.
“He missed the turn and I thought I could capitalize on his mistake, but I wasn’t able to close that last half-a-second gap,” said True, who was coming off a win in March in the New York City Half Marathon in 1:02:39. “He just didn’t turn. I was able to go from a stride behind him to just in front and then he went by me again. When I lose a sprint I’m always disappointed. I can’t say I’m all that thrilled about it.”
Aidan Puffer of Manchester, Conn., turned in one of the most startling performances on the day. The 13-yearold phenom broke his own age group road race world record with a time of 15:47. That mark lowered his standard of 16:11.4. Puffer broke the world mark for 12-year-olds with a 16:46.30 last year.
“I felt good,” said Puffer. “I ran this race last year and knew it was a fast course.”
The 23-year-old Diriba used her unmatched kick to beat countrywoman Fotyen Tesfay (15:23) and Kenya’s Monicah Ngige (15:24). Watertown’s Molly Seidel was the top American finisher with a 15:33 for fifth place.
“I trained very well and I have the speed,” said Diriba. “I changed my gear at the end. I had to confidence to win. My speed was good and the weather was good. I’m very happy.”