Chipangama claims men's 10k title

Jordan Chipangama added another Zambia success to this year’s Bermuda Marathon Weekend with victory in the 10k this morning.

Chipangama, who finished third in the Elite Men’s KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile behind winner and compatriot Harry Mulenga on Friday night, surged to his win in a time of 30 minutes and 47 seconds in torrential rain.

Diriba Yigezu, of Kenya, came home in second in 30:49, while Mulenga crossed the finish line inside the national stadium in third.

Chipangama told the Bermuda Sun: “Looking at the time it wasn’t spectacular but a win is a win.

“I had actually decided not to race the guys but I thought I should just go in the run for 30-40 minutes as preparation for the half-marathon tomorrow.

“At the start I was behind at the two-mile mark but I was going at seven, eight minute pace and I realised that these guys must not be racing. So I worked my way through and around three miles started sprinting for a bit and caught up to them.

“I looked at my watch and it was marathon pace so I thought I’d better join them and push on. I was pretty much in control from mile three.

“The weather didn’t bother me. With the rain and the temperature it was heaven!”

He added:  “The half marathon is more important because I won it last year and I didn’t expect to win. Defending the title is not something that is going to be easy because you are always the guy everyone is looking for. But it is something I treasure and a distance I admire more than anything else.”

The women’s race was won by Sarah Brown from fellow American Heather Kampf reversing the result from the Elite Women’s Front Street Mile.

Brown came home in 35:24 (11^th overall) with Kampf a minute back in 36:41. Bermuda Ashley Estwanik was third in 37:26.