Reta, Deba capture top spots in 10K race

By Bobby Herrell -- sports@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- On a gloomy Saturday morning, 1,038 runners took off in the 28th running of the Apple Blossom 10K in a slight drizzle. As the weather cleared, Alene Reta dashed across the finish line, winning the race with a course-shattering time of 29.03.

"I enjoyed the course today, it was hard but I have run harder ones," Reta said. "This was my first time here."

Finishing second, also under the old record, was Worku Beyi, whose wife, Buzunesh Deba was the first female to cross the line. The three Ethiopians all live and train in the United States.

"I came with my wife and decided to run just this morning," Beyi said.

Finishing just a few seconds behind Reta, Beyi just missed a husband-wife sweep.

"This was our first time running here and I really liked it" Deba said. "We train together and usually are in a race every week."

Fourth-place finisher Peter Matelong, a Kenyan who resides in Atlanta and also races every week, thought the course was very hard.

Winner Reta said he prefers 10K races over others, but he has run some marathons. That seemed to be the consensus of opinion for the other runners as well. Beyi likes running in 5K races also. They all said they hoped to be back next year.

"I run all the time and race every week," Reta said. "Running is my life, it's the way I make money, and it's the way I survive."