Prominent South African runner Hendrick Ramaala won the 2004 edition of the 16km Dam to Dam road race in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on Sunday.
A law graduate from the University of Witwatersrand, Ramaala (32) won the popular race in 45 minutes and 59 seconds. He beat a field of more than 7 000 people.
”It was a tough race because other top runners like Bernard Barmasai and William Kipsang were also competing,” said Ramaala on Monday from his training base in France.
Barmasai (45,59) and Kipsang (46,00) — both from Kenya — were second and third respectively. Ramaala left for Amsterdam on Friday night from Johannesburg.
”This is a good start after a groin injury messed me up during the Olympics. There are a few more other short-distance events that I will be running before tackling a marathon at the end of the year,” said Ramaala.
”I will be able to decide after two weeks or so regarding the marathon I will be running. For now, I have decided to concentrate on the short-distance events to regain my reputation after the problems in Athens.”
It was Ramaala’s first race after bailing out after the 20km mark during the Athens Olympic Games Marathon in Greece on August 29 because of his groin injury. — Sapa