Soldiers finish 2nd, 4th in Pan American Games 10K race

Photo By Tim Hipps | Spcs. Aron Rono (foreground) and Shad Kipchirchir of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program run stride for stride in the men's 10,000 meters at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto on July 21. Rono took the silver medal with a time of 28 minutes, 50.83 seconds and Kipchirchir finished fourth in 29:01.55. Ahmed Mohammed of Canada won the race in 28:49.96. (U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs)  

TORONTO, ON, CANADA

07.21.2015

Story by Tim Hipps 

U.S. Army Installation Management Command         

TORONTO - Spc. Aron Rono claimed the silver medal and Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir battled a cramping calf muscle to take fourth place in the men's 10,000-meter run today at the 2015 Pan American Games. Both runners are Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.

Canada's Mohammed Ahmed won the race with a time of 28 minutes, 49.96 seconds, followed by Rono (28:50.83), bronze medalist Juan Luis Barrios (28:51.57) of Mexico and Kipchirchir (29:01.55).

Dos Santos led the field through 5,000 meters in 14:27.71. Rono then moved to the front for a few laps, taking the lead pack through 6,000 meters in 17:26.06.

"I was trying to be up front, but at the same time, trying to save some energy for the finish," Rono said. "It was on and off, but I felt strong the entire time, so it was good.

"When I went up front, we were planning to stretch it - have the line [of runners] more spread out, but then everyone kept coming back, so I was like, 'OK, it looks like everyone is feeling strong. So I'm going to go back and wait.'"

Bronze medalist Barrios set the pace through 7,000 meters before Dos Santos surged back to the front. Throughout all of the jostling up front, Kipchirchir maintained contact with the lead pack of about six runners.

Ahmed pulled away from the pack and hit the 9,000-meter mark in 23:14.39, but Rono and Barrios caught back up. They battled back and forth over the last 800 meters.

"I knew he was strong and I was trying to run away because I know he's a 5K runner and he's got more speed than I do," Rono said. "So I tried to go faster and get a little bit ahead, but I felt him just coming on my shoulder."

The capacity crowd at the CIBC Athletics Stadium roared their approval throughout the final lap of the dramatic race.

With about 200 meters remaining, Ahmed passed Rono for the final time and it was an all-out sprint to the finish.

"I thought I would pass him back," Rono said. "But in the last 100 I was going all-out and I could see the gap opening. If I had more, I needed another gear."

Ahmed's final surge of speed prevailed in the homestretch.

Kipchirchir dropped off the pace in the final 200 meters as his hamstring continued to tighten.

"My left calf was just bothering me," said Kipchirchir, 26, a native of Kenya, who attended Oklahoma State University. "It didn't allow me to sprint with those guys in the last straightaway, but it was a pretty nice race anyway. I love being able to represent the Army and the USA, and this is just the beginning."

Rono seconded that sentiment.

"I feel really blessed," said Rono, 32. Since entering WCAP nearly three years ago, Rono finished fourth and fifth in the past two Army Ten-Milers and competed despite injury at the Armed Forces Cross Country Championships. "I'm back, healthy now and just training for the marathon trials."

The 2016 Olympic Men's Marathon Team Trials are scheduled for Feb. 13 in Los Angeles. Rono also plans to compete in the 2016 Military World Games in South Korea, where he will run the 10,000 meters.

"It's amazing," Rono said. "I exceeded my expectations here today. I thought I was going to be in the mix, but I kind of surprised myself, given that I trained through it. I didn't really taper that much.

"Army strong - just keep pushing," Rono said.

• Date Taken: 07.21.2015
• Date Posted: 07.28.2015 11:53
• Story ID: 171331
• Location: TORONTO, ON, CA
• Hometown: PORTLAND, OR, US