Pune Marathon: ASI makes clean sweep of 10 km men's race

Pune, Nov 28 (UNI) Overcoming heat and humidity, gritty long distance runners from the Army Sports Institute (ASI) today outclassed a strong field to make the clean sweep of the demanding 10 km men's race held along with the Hutch-sponsored 21st Pune International Marathon.

In a determined effort, athletically built Sita Ram ran a well calculated race after being held himself in the lead bunch and made the right move to steal a small lead before increasing it to breeze past the finish at the Bund Garden clocking 31.85 minutes.

Deepchand and Chidu Kumar, however, completed the sweep finishing second and third respectively. Deepchand produced a time of 32.12 minutes while Chidu Kumar finished in a time of 32.43 minutes. The event attracted the bulk of the entries among the other age group events held simulteneously.

The corresponding women's 10km race was won by gritty Rohini Raut of Nagpur, who had to wage a stiff battle before caputring the title, stopping the clock at 44.36 minutes. Anupama Patel of Mumbai and international runner Swati Gurnule, younger sister of Indian women's champ Madhuri Gurnule of Nagpur, were placed second and third respectively. Madhuri had finished eigth overall in the women's half marathon in a time of 80:31 minutes which was won by Hellen Nzembi of Kenya posting a time of 73.20 minutes.

Patel needed 44.39 minutes to complete the distance while Swati made it in a time of 45.08 minutes.

Apart from the full marathon (42.195 Kms) for men and women's half marathon (21 kms) being the mega events of the 21st edition of Pune International Marathon, a total eleven age group race attarcting a whooping entries about 50,000 were also ran simulteneously.

The prize distribution ceremony was held here today for the other events. The prizes were given at the hands of former MLA Chandrakant Chhajed, Pune District Amateur Athletic Association (PDAAA) president Bharat Desarla, Maharashtra Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) vice-president Abhay Chhajed.

Pune International Marathon Trust (PIMT) organising secretary Follwing are the results: Boys Under 19 (7.8 Kms) : Atul Pandarkar ( Pune ) 20.14 mts 1, Tushar Desale (BEG) 22.15 mts 2, Virender Singh(BEG) 25.13 mts 3, Sachin Dhole (Pune )25.14 mts 4, Rameshwar Chiddgire (Nanded) 25.18 mts 5. Mohammed Younus (ASI) 26.23 mts 6.

Men's 10 Kms : Sita Ram (ASI) 31.85 mts 1, Deepchand (ASI) 32.12 mts 2.Chidu Kumar (ASI) 32.43 mts 3, Rarshram Bhoi ( Kol ) 32.58 mts 4, Ajay Kumar (UP Police) 33.42 mts 5, R.Alfred (MRC) 33.57 mts 6 Women's 10 Kms : Rohini Raut (Nag) 44.36 mts 1, Annupama Patel (Mumbai) 44.39 mts 2, Swati Gurnule (Nag) 45.08 mts 3,Ashwini Sanjay Sharad Satara) 48.21 mts 4, Deepa Pate (Pune 48.33 mts 5, Rulai Gadve (Pune) 49.19 mts 6 UNI IS GB PDS RN2038