Bengt Lofgren prepared for his impending departure from Saudi Arabia in the way he knows best — by running fast and beating all-comers at the Riyadh Road Runners' 30km race on the weekend here. Dirab Golf Course played host to the race on this occasion, the golf course providing a stunning backdrop to the hordes of exhausted runners pounding the tarmac between the luscious green fairways. Sixty-five runners completed the course, which is a club record and demonstrates the depth of distance running talent that is emerging in the capital city. However, head and shoulders above them all were Bengt Lofgren and Claudine Roghi — the usual suspects leaving all others trailing in their wake. In the male race, the much-improved Abdulmajeed Al-Muayquil led throughout the first lap, with Omani national Abdulwahed Al-Murshidi on his shoulder throughout. However, Al-Murshidi began to tire as the kilometers racked up, slipping back through the field and eventually finishing in 9th place. Lofgren caught up with Al-Muayquil at around the 12km marker, and from there they ran together until the start of the closing straight. At this point Lofgren used his vast experience and stamina to pull away from his Saudi rival, and eventually crossed the line in a rapid time of 2:09:31, with Abdulmajeed a mere 33 seconds behind. In third place was Sebastien Kurch, the German staying strong at the end and keeping the onrushing Irishman Padraig Cusack at arm's length. In the female race, Nikki Layne matched Roghi yard for yard throughout the course of the entire race. However Roghi, who showed great resilience to run 30km a mere week after finishing a 72km challenge in Oman (along with Padraig Cusack, Abdulwahed Al-Murshidi and Pierre Delbecq), managed to fight off the challenge of Layne in the final meters — remarkably the top two females were only split by 2 seconds after the full race distance! Franziska Saller, reigning half marathon champion, took third place in a very respectable time of 2:41:42, coming home just behind club Chairman Richard Slater. The organizers thanked Dirab Golf Course for the use of its venue, Burj Al-Hamam restaurant for the Shawarmas after the race and Carrefour Tala Mall for providing food and water. The next race for the club is the Gulf International Bank Riyadh Marathon, which looks set to be a fantastic day out this weekend (Feb. 26). Results Male race: 1. Bengt Lofgren (SWE) 2:09:31, 2. Abdulmajeed Al-Muayquil (KSA) 2:10:31, 3. Sebastien Kurch (DEU) 2:15:21. Female race: 1. Claudine Roghi (NZ/FRA) 2:25:56, 2. Nikki Layne (GB&NI) 2:25:58, 3. Franziska Saller (DEU) 2:41:42. — SG
