WORLD LEAD FOR MUTAI - DEFENDS B.A.A. 10-K TITLE IN 27:29
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission.

  NOTE: A separate story on the women's race will follow --Ed.

BOSTON (24-Jun) -- Geoffrey Mutai successfully defended his crown here at the second edition of the B.A.A. 10-K, running away from a stellar field here on the streets of Boston.  Crossing the finish line in 27:29, the fastest 10-K run thus far in 2012, Mutai was all smiles.

"I am happy again.  I don't know if you know all my happiness when I am in Boston. It is not like other races," said the champion.

After pushing the pace through two miles in 8:51, Mutai and fellow Kenyan Philip Langat broke away from the rest of the eight-man lead pack. Turning down Bay State Road and running through the picturesque campus of Boston University, Mutai and Langat were pushing together.

"I was very happy when I was running with Geoffrey because I knew we were on course record [pace]," said Langat. "I was trying his pace, and I follow him. When I saw the people cheering outside, I caught the morale to follow him and run a good time."

As the pair approached 5-K, Mutai began to separate ever so slightly from the 22-year-old Langat. While competing, Mutai said he had one thing on his mind: to win the race for his daughter, Marieke, whose birthday is this week.

"Last year when I was running here, my baby was born," he said.  "So when I came back to this race I told my family I am going to try to win in the name of my child."

Rounding the halfway turnaround point in 13:51, Langat had returned to Mutai's shoulder. But that would only last briefly.  Before the pair hit four miles, Mutai was alone once again. Running down Commonwealth Avenue, the father of two pushed on, gaining strength from the many competitors running in the opposite direction who offered cheers along the way.

"I hear a lot because they are shouting at me so I push it again," he said. "They remind me of the Boston Marathon."

Through Kenmore Square with a seven-second lead on Langat, Mutai still was within range of his 27:19 course record.

"For me, the last kilometer was slow because I lost the motion because I didn't have anyone to pull or anyone to see that I am fighting against," he said. "For me, I was trying to push it. I won only, but I didn't have the time like last year."

With a mixture of a grimace and a smile across his face, Mutai continued down Commonwealth Avenue before passing the Public Garden. Turning onto the finishing straight on Charles Street, no one was in sight.

"What is in my mind is this is my home," said Mutai who picked up $5000 for the victory.  "All of the course records are mine, in the Boston Marathon and the B.A.A. 10-K.  All of my best times are here in Boston. I am here in Boston! This is my home.  Behind, Langat and Ali Abdosh of Ethiopia would round out the top three in 27:53 and 28:21, respectively. Fourth was Morocco's Ahmed Baday (28:30) and fifth was Kenyan Allan Kiprono, 28:37. B.A.A. 5-K runner-up Sam Chelanga finished one second behind in sixth.

With the B.A.A. 10-K serving as the second leg of the inaugural B.A.A. Distance Medley, many were looking to see who would come out of the race atop the leader board. At the end of the series --which also includes last April's B.A.A. 5-K and October's B.A.A. Half Marathon-- $100,000 will be awarded to the male and female with the lowest cumulative time from the three races.

Entering the B.A.A. 10-K, Chelanga held a three second lead over Lani Rutto and a five second margin on Kiprono. Ethiopia's Abdosh was 16 seconds behind coming into today's race.  By the time all had finished and results were calculated, Abdosh will leave Boston with a one second lead over Chelanga, something that the 24-year-old is quite happy about.

"I am very happy and excited for the Half Marathon," said Abdosh, who won last year's B.A.A. Half Marathon. "I won last year and I hope to win again. If I win [the Distance Medley] I would be very happy. Very happy."

With near-perfect weather --74F, 42% humidity and blue skies-- 4,560 competitors finished today's race, up sharply from 3040 last year.

ENDS