Masai just too strong for Twell

12 January 2009 - 02:00
By unknown

Britain's Stephanie Twell ran well but finished fourth behind Kenya's Linet Masai in the women's event at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country.

Britain's Stephanie Twell ran well but finished fourth behind Kenya's Linet Masai in the women's event at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country.

Twell, 19, has just stepped up to the seniors. Masai, also 19, broke away halfway through the 5,6km race to win by 11 seconds in 19 minutes two seconds.

Britain's Andy Baddeley, now fully fit again after an Achilles injury, defended his men's 4km title.

Baddeley, despite suffering a spiked right ankle before the final circuit, accelerated with just over 1km to go to finish in 12:17 and comfortably defeat Steve Vernon, with Tom Lancashire in third.

Three-time European junior champion Twell, who won on her senior debut in Antrim last weekend, was well off the rapid pace on the first lap.

Twell, a 2012 medal hope from Aldershot, fought her way back to the leaders but when Masai hit the accelerator the Kenyan stretched clear.

Twell stuck at her task and briefly moved into third on the last hill, but Kenya's Viola Kibiwott's faster finish pushed the Briton into a repeat of last year's fourth place.

Masai has already come fourth in the Olympic 10000m final with a world junior record in Beijing.

Ethiopian Abebe Dinkesa sprinted away from a strong international field to win the men's 10km race in 26:51, with Frank Tickner and Andrew Lemoncello the leading Britons in 11th and 12th places respectively. - BBC