Ethiopians Tola and Gudeta dominate at BoClassic NYE race

Ethiopians Tamirat Tola and Netsanet Gudeta took the honours to hand Ethiopia a first double victory at the 41st edition of the Boclassic New Year’s Eve Race in Bolzano in northern Italy on Thursday.

Tamirat Tola crossed the finish line in the Wather Square after 10km of running in 28:28, beating the 2014 Boclassic winner and his compatriot Muktar Edris by the impressive margin of 16 seconds.

Three-time Boclassic champion Imane Merga completed the all-Ethiopian men’s podium in 28:56, holding off Kenya’s 3000m steeplechase Diamond Race winner Jairus Kipchoge Birech, who was fourth in 28:58.

Netsanet Gudeta, the bronze medallist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang 2015 last March, won in 15:57, coming home five seconds ahead of Kenya’s 2014 Boclassic winner Janet Kisa.

Another Kenyan, Viola Kibiwot, who was fourth in the 5000m at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 last summer, finishing third with in 16:08.