Davenport, Iowa — On a record cool day in America’s heartland, Kenya’s Leonard Korir halted countryman Silas Kipruto’s bid for an unprecedented three-peat at the Quad City Times Bix 7 Road Race today.  But it took a relentless last two mile push and a furious final kick to pull it off for the 2011 NCAA 10,000 meter champion out of Iona College.

“I didn’t think I would win,” said the 26 year-old Korir after getting the better of his taller, more experienced competitor, stopping the clock at 32:15, the eleventh best time in the history of the 39 year-old American road classic.  “I was only hoping for top three.”

On the women’s side, Ethiopia’s 23 year-old Sule Utura used similar late race speed to take the measure of 25 year-old countrywomen Buzunesh Deba 36:34 to 36:39, with 2011 champion Caroline Rotich of Kenya, 29, coming in third in 37:02.  American Meb Keflezighi finished third for the men, 24-seconds behind the winner in his seventh tour of the famed rollercoaster seven-mile course. (more…)