Kenyans Stephen Sambu and Mary Wacera won titles this morning at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run in Washington D.C., Sambu’s second consecutive victory at the U.S. capital. 

 

Sambu broke away from the men’s field around 35 minutes into race, and never looked back, crossing the line in 43:20, seven seconds ahead of second place finisher Jacob Riley of Brooks. Riley continues to run well in 2015, (outside of his 20th place finish at USA XC) and he took some impressive scalps on Sunday, most notably 2014 Cherry Blossom runner-up Daniel Salel, who was third. Riley finished in 43:27, while Salel came across in 43:33.

 

The course was shortened by a half mile due to an accident before the race. 

 

Sunday’s victory for Sambu was his eighth road-racing win since the start of 2014. The former Arizona All-American looks poised to make the Kenyan 10,000m team for the World Championships this summer in Beijing, and beyond that, should have a long career as a marathoner when he decides to make that jump in the coming years. 

 

Men’s Cherry Blossom Top 10

 

1. Stephen Sambu (KEN) 43:20

 

2. Jacob Riley (USA) 43:28

 

3. Elisha Barno (KEN) 43:30

 

4. Daniel Salel (KEN) 43:34

 

5. Girma Mecheso (USA) 43:43

 

6. Dominic Ondoro (KEN) 43:53

 

7. Philip Langat (KEN) 43:53

 

8. Leonard Korir (KEN) 43:59

 

9. Mourad Marofit (MAR) 44:05

 

10. Jared Ward (USA) 44:19

 

In the women’s race, Kenyans Mary Wacera and Cynthia Limo ran stride for stride over the final miles, with Wacera ultimately having the stronger kick in the final 400m, taking the narrow win over Limo. Fellow Kenyan Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton, the former Wichita State All-American, was a distant third in 49:19.

 

Women’s Cherry Blossom Top 10

 

1. Mary Wacera (KEN) 48:35

 

2. Cynthia Limo (KEN) 48:35

 

3. Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton (KEN) 49:20

 

4. Monica Wanjuhi Ngige (KEN) 49:54

 

5. Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 50:11

 

6. Serena Burla (USA) 50:18

 

7. Valentine Kibet (KEN) 50:49

 

8. Megan Goethals (USA) 51:07

 

9. Juliet Bottorff (USA) 51:12

 

10. Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 51:15