RIYADH: The Riyadh Road Runners kicked off their new season in style last Friday, with 201 finishers ensuring that the race will go down as the largest event in the history of the club. However, despite the increase in numbers and many new faces, it was the female club champion, Claudine Roghi, and the evergreen Mo Foustok who ran away with the honors once more.

Over a 5km course it is usually of paramount importance to get a good start. In the men’s race, Matthew Mickelson went off very quickly, holding the lead over the first kilometer. However, Bengt Lofgren, the reigning male club champion, and Mo Foustok, reigning marathon champion, kept him in their sights and worked their way through the field and onto the heel of Mickelson by the 1.5km mark. From here on in, Foustok ran away with the race in his inimitable style, with Lofgren cementing second place a mere 40 seconds behind Foustok. AbdulMajeed AlMuayquil came home in third place – an encouraging display which bodes well for the rest of the season, and a full 3 minutes quicker than his time last year.

Further down the field saw good performances from the veteran Russ McArthur and newcomer Alexander Beazley.

Roghi went into the ladies’ race the strong favorite for victory, particularly given her performance in the off season at the Two Oceans race in Cape Town. She ran a consistent pace throughout, picking off Nikki Layne who led throughout the early stages. Finishing in 22:24, Roghi demonstrated the improvement she has made in the last year, as her time was almost 3 minutes quicker than in the equivalent race in 2014. Nikki Layne held on for second place, with Clare Scott making her way through the field in the latter stages of the race to pip Candace Adachi for third.

Riyadh Road Runners would like to thank Carrefour Tala Mall for sponsoring the club and providing race water and fruit, and also Ishbiliyah compound for the use of their venue. The next race will be over 5 miles, and with Foustok away at a race in Chile the men’s race looks set to be wide open.

Results:

Men’s race: 1. M Foustok (KSA) 18:16, 2. B Lofgren (Swe) 18:56, 3. A Almuayquil (KSA) 19:16.

Ladies’ race: 1. C Roghi (NZ/Fra) 22:24, 2. N Layne (GB) 22:48, 3. C Scott (GB) 23:11.