GEOFFREY MUTAI WINS IN CASTELBUONO
By David Monti
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai won his third consecutive road race of the year, dominating tonight's Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono in Sicily in his debut at the event.

Mutai, the reigning Boston Marathon champion, won the hilly 10 kilometer race in 29:05, more than a minute ahead of second place Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, the reigning ING New York City Marathon champion.  Gebremariam clocked 30:13, one second ahead of rising Kenyan star Mathew Kisorio.  Reigning Virgin London Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai finished sixth in 30:48.

"From the sixth lap, I changed the pace and it went well because I have dropped the others," Geoffrey Mutai told race organizers.  "I will make a big marathon in the autumn."

Tonight's race was the 86th running of what organizers sometimes call "La Corsa Piu' Antica," the ancient race.  Founded in 1912, participation is by invitation, only.  Contested on a 1.1 kilometer circuit, this year's event covered 10 kilometers instead of the traditional 11.3 kilometers.

PHOTOS: Geoffrey Mutai leading, then winning the 2011 Giro Podistico Internazionale di Castelbuono (photos courtesy of race organizers).

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