Bloomsday elite women: Cynthia Limo wins with final kick

Doomsday Hill transformed a 12-woman race into a three-woman race.

Cynthia Limo used a final tenacious kick to separate herself from the other two challengers.

Limo burst past Ruti Aga and surprise co-leader Jane Kibii during the final downhill stretch Sunday to claim the women’s elite field at the 39th Bloomsday run.

Limo, the prerace favorite, captured Bloomsday in her first attempt, finishing the 12 kilometers in 39 minutes, 27 seconds, 1 second ahead of Aga and 2 up on Kibii. The 25-year-old Kenyan also won this year’s Hy-Vee Half Marathon in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Cooper River Bridge Run in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

“I was with two ladies and they were strong runners,” Limo said. “They were trying to push so hard and I was trying to persevere for the race. … When I saw the finish line, I knew that each one was trying to pull for position one. I had to struggle and fight so much.”

Aga entered as the fourth-seeded racer. The 21-year-old Ethiopian declined an interview request because of her limited English.

Kibii, 30, of Kenya, was overjoyed with her third-place effort. She entered the race as a bit of an afterthought, seeded 14th.

“I said, ‘I want to stay with these guys and have fun,’ ” she said. “I’ll try to pull it in for the last mile because I don’t (have a great kick). … I felt good all the way, but the first mile was not good for me. But after one mile I felt good so, OK, let’s see what can happen.”

A dozen runners separated themselves from the other elite competitors at the 2-mile marker during a sunny day with ideal conditions.

Ethiopian Etalemahu Habtewold set the early pace, but Aga and Kenyans Ann Wanjiru and Risper Gesabwa ran in line out front when the pack passed Spokane Falls Community College.

By 4 miles, reached in 21:17.63, Aga and Gesabwa held a slight edge on Kibii.

Limo, Aga and Gesabwa made their move near Doomsday Hill, with Kibii right behind. At 5 miles, Gesabwa was left behind. She finished fourth in an even 40 minutes.

The final three contenders hit 6 miles at 31:58.78 and 7 miles at 37:12.12.

Aga, who placed second at this year’s Hy-Vee 10-kilometer run, is known as a strong sprinter, but Limo had the better kick this time.

“It’s a good course, but it’s very tough. It’s very tough,” Limo said. … “We had to struggle for it. … I never knew that I was going to win it, but toward the end I had to struggle for that position.”

Limo earned $7,000 as champion. Aga took home $4,500 and Kibii $3,000.

“A fantastic day for me,” Limo said. “I’m so glad. … I’ll come maybe next year and hope for the best again.”

Habtewold placed fifth in 40:12 and Wanjiru was sixth in 40:17.

The top American, Blake Russell of Pacific Grove, California, placed 12th in 40:57.