Ethiopian Review

Training in high altitudes helped propel Belainesh Gebre to a record-setting pace at the 30th running of the Dam to Dam road race Saturday.

Gebre finished the 20-kilometer course from Saylorville Dam to Nollen Plaza in Des Moines in 1 hour, 9 minutes to break the women’s record. Her time was 52 seconds faster than the mark set by Janice Ettle in 1990.

A native Ethiopian, Gebre is now based in Flagstaff, Ariz., which reaches elevations of more than 7,000 feet above sea level. She said training at such a high elevation helped her break the record and take home the $1,500 top prize.

“It is very nice training in Flagstaff,” Gebre said. “The elevation, the weather, everything is very nice.”

Sammy Malakwen of Two Harbors, Minn., won the men’s 20K race in 1:01:52 and also took home $1,500. Malakwen, who finished fourth last year, recorded the sixth-fastest time in Dam to Dam history.

“I was injured last year,” said Malakwen, a native of Kenya. “This time, I feel that my body is good. That helped me run fast.”

Gebre beat second-place Robyn Friedman by 2 minutes, 12 seconds. Friedman, of Lambs Grove, was attempting to win the race for the third time and second time in three years.

Temperatures reached 67 degrees with clear skies during the race, conditions similar to the weather in Flagstaff this time of the year.

“This was the perfect weather for this race,” she said through an interpreter. “The weather conditions helped me break the record.”

Casey Owens of Des Moines won the women’s 5K race in 17:40, and Julius Rotich of West Des Moines won the men’s 5K race in 15:36. Owens won the 20K race in 2006.

(The Des Moines Register)