Foustok leaves it late to snatch victory

RIYADH: In the fourth race of the season, a 10-miler at a farm in the south of Riyadh, the Riyadh Road Runners witnessed one of the most exciting races in the recent history of the club. Two Saudi nationals, Mo Foustok and Hamad Ozaybi, both arrived with unbeaten records, but racing each other for the first time, something had to give.
Ozaybi and Foustok set off at a high tempo, distancing the vast majority of the field within the first kilometre. Gareth Gallagher (Ireland) and Victor Hernandez-Garcia (Spain) hung on manfully for a couple of kilometres, but on the first uphill the relentless pace of the Saudis ensured that henceforth would be a two-horse race.
Ozaybi and Foustok were neck and neck throughout the first 5 mile lap, however, by the midway point of the second lap Ozaybi had managed to build a lead of around 50 metres.
Seeing Foustok struggling behind him, Ozaybi made the controversial but sporting decision to give Foustok the ground back. As they entered the final kilometre, they were still neck and neck. Ozaybi made a break for the line with 250 metres to go, but Foustok responded in style, his superior strength proving the decisive factor as he finished a mere 11 seconds in front of Ozaybi, who pulled up just short of the line with a hamstring strain.
Talking to club chairman Richard Slater after the race, Ozaybi said “this is my first race in a while and it was tough to maintain that speed throughout. I’ll come back stronger at the next 10 mile race in 4 weeks’ time.”
In the ladies race, Laura Blazek again proved to be the quickest woman in the field, holding off a resurgent Claudine Roghi to win by around 2 minutes. Blazek never looked like losing the lead she established in the first kilometre, and it looks like she will be difficult to beat this season. For her part, Roghi struggled somewhat as she approached the finish line, visibly distressed by pain in her right hip, but finished a full 3 minutes in front of the third placed woman Clare Scott, who maintained a steady pace throughout and never looked in danger of missing out on the podium.
The Riyadh Road Runners would like to extend their thanks to Ranco administration for the use of their farm, and to Carrefour for providing water and fruit to all runners during the race.
Male: 1 Mohammed Foustok (KSA) 58:37, 2 Hamad Ozaybi (KSA) 58:48, 3 Gareth Gallagher (IRE) 1:00:05
Female: 1 Laura Blazek (USA) 1:13:53, 2 Claudine Roghi (NZ/FRA) 1:16:11, 3 Clare Scott (GBR) 1:19:42