ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S Bontu Rebitu posted a top 10 finish in the women’s 15-kilometre event in the Boilermaker Road Race held in Utica, New York in the US.
The long-distance specialist took seventh overall amongst the elite women participants in a time of 50 minutes 12 seconds, which was a new personal best.
She completed the distance nearly a minute behind Grace Loibach Nawowuna, who won in 49:18 to lead a Kenyan trio onto the podium. Nawowuna pipped compatriot Emmaculate Anyango Achol at the finish but they both had the same times, while Cynthia Jerotich took third just three seconds behind.
Others to finish ahead of Rebitu were Mestawut Fikir (49:38) of Ethiopia in fourth, Kenyan Jesca Chelangat (49:39) in fifth, and Ethiopian Kasanesh Baze (50:10) in sixth, while behind her and rounding out the top eight was Annamaria Kostarellis (50:19) of the US.
A total of 26 elite women competed in the race.
It was Rebitu’s first run in the distance in 2024. The 26-year-old improved on her old personal best of 50:48, which she clocked in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2017.
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