ELITE WOMEN

First, Kenyan Edna Kiplagat held her ground. Then she pulled away.

Kiplagat and Teyba Erkesso essentially ran stride-for-stride for the first five-plus miles of Bloomsday. Erkesso tried to gain some separation on Doomsday Hill, but Kiplagat kept her bright orange running shoes right on Erkesso’s heels. When the two reached the top of the hill, it was Kiplagat’s turn to make a move, pulling away from Erkesso to win the elite women’s race in a time of 38 minutes, 52 seconds. Erkesso finished the 7.46 miles in 39:22, holding off third-place Emily Chebet by five seconds.

Kiplagat and Erkesso were never separated by more than a couple of steps until Kiplagat took off in the sixth mile.

“That’s when I tried to push harder so that I could see if I could pass her,” said Kiplagat, who placed third in the 2003 event with a time of 40:25. “When she started to reduce, that’s when I tried to push.”

Kiplagat, who earned $7,000 for the victory, steadily increased her lead. By the time the two reached Lindeke Street, she was about 20 yards in front. On Broadway, Kiplagat’s margin grew to more than 100 yards and the only question left was whether Erkesso could hold off Chebet for second place.

Kiplagat, 27, ran the sixth mile in 5:14.05, believed to be a course record for the elite women. Her time of 38:52 was the second fastest posted in the last 11 Bloomsdays and sixth best overall. Kenya’s Isabella Ochichi won the 2006 race in 38:38.

“In 2003, I was No. 3 so I tried to do my best today,” Kiplagat said.

Erkesso, a 24-year-old Ethopian with four wins already this season, led most of the first five miles as she and Kiplagat quickly opened up a 20- to 25-yard gap over a pack of four runners that included Kenyan Catherine Ndereba, one of the pre-race favorites. At roughly the midpoint of the course, the two leaders had stretched their lead to 50 yards.

Erkesso said she attempted to take control of the race on Doomsday Hill, but she couldn’t get away from Kiplagat, who looked smooth throughout.

“She’s strong,” Erkesso said of Kiplagat. Erkesso added that she needed to do “more training.”

Ndebera, who won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympic marathon, never threatened the leaders. She finished in 39:57, good for fourth place.

“I always try to run according to how I feel,” she said, “so my body could not keep up right then (in the first few miles). I feel very good with my performance.”

Ndebera was happy for Kiplagat.

“I know her and I’m not surprised,” Ndebera said. “She’s somebody I’ve been racing with for some time. She’s ready; everybody who comes to this race is ready for this distance. Her performance was good and she’s worked hard.”

Great Britain’s Kathy Butler (40:07) took fifth.