Former Western Kentucky runner Patrick Cheptoek set the pace for most of The Medical Center 10K Classic on Saturday.
But it was that other fraction of a second that made the difference.
Cheptoek was edged at the finish line by winner Reuben Mwei in the 32nd annual running of the event, creating the closest finish in the race’s history.
“The race was great, and the weather was just perfect conditions for running,” Cheptoek said. “I ran well and led the whole race from the start until the very end, but the only bit of disappointment was that I was kicked at the finish line. But overall, I’m happy.”
Mwei, a Kenya native, officially finished with a time of 29:13, while Cheptoek finished with a 29:14. But the more precise results showed that Mwei’s burst past Cheptoek at the finish line gave him the win by 19 tenths of a second.
“I caught up with a pack and decided to not push it and stay with them and see how it goes,” Mwei said. “But then on the last mile, I decided to just go for it. (Cheptoek) was pushing it really hard, and I thought, ‘I need to make a move now.’ ”
Cheptoek, from Kapchorusa, Uganda, graduated from WKU in August and decided to turn professional. He ran two races in Illinois and Ohio prior to Saturday, setting personal bests in the 5K and 10K.
“I’ve put my effort into it, and I’ve been really happy with my running so far,” Cheptoek said.
Ngatuny Emmanuel finished third in the men’s division with a time of 29:35.
Bonita Paul, also a WKU graduate, won the women’s division with a time of 35:34.
The victory had been a long time coming for Paul, who finished between second and fifth in her first four entrances in the race.
Paul was a member of the WKU track and cross-country teams until her graduation in 2005, but she still lives in Bowling Green and continues to train.
“It was great, with all of the local people,” Paul said. “They’ve seen me running around town every day, and they were cheering me on, yelling my name and number.”
Paul finished ahead of Sonja Friend-Uhl and Maria Busienei, who recorded times of 36:09 and 37:51, respectively.
Other division winners were Darlene Hoagland, senior grand masters female; Gary Romesser, senior grand masters male; Lilly Wheet, grand masters female; Barry Ross, grand masters male; Yvonne Petkus, masters female; and Chad Newton, masters male.
