Marseille-Cassis Classique, a disappointment for Meseret Mengistu

Cassis, France – The 32nd edition of International Marseille-Cassis Classique turned out to be a great disappointment for title holder and clear favorite Meseret Mengistu of Ethiopia as she failed to even finish the race.

Ethiopian athletes Belete Assefa and Belaynesh Oljira had to settle for second places in both men and women categories.

Kenyan athletes were dominant with Philemon Limo and Diane Chepkemoi of Kenya finishing first.

Belete, who was hoping to be the first Ethiopian to win the race, came in second 1:02.30, almost one minute behind Limo.  Fellow compatriot Yirsaw Tegene finished fourth.

In the women’s category, Belaynesh Oljira, who was in the lead at one time of the race, had to settle for second place (1:12.26) behind winner 20-year-old Diane Chepkemoi of Kenya, a relatively unknown athlete.

RESULTS

MEN
1 Philemon Limo (Kenya) 01:01:35
2 Belete Assefa (Ethiopia) 01:02:30
3 Robert Ndiwa (Kenya) 01:02:35
4 Yrsaw Tegene (Ethiopia) 01:03:31

WOMEN
1 Diane Chepkemoi (Kenya) 01:10:36
2 Beleynesh Oljira (Ethiopia) 01:12:26
3 Jane Kiptoo (Kenya) 01:12:51
4 Ermebt Bedada (Ethiopia) 01:13:11