Suriya upsets Preeja in 10,000m in National Open Athletics

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Preeja, who won gold in the 2010 Asian Games but had failed to qualify for the London Olympics, clocked 35:19.4 to finish second behind Suriya who recorded her personal best of 35 minutes 18.2 secs in the first event of the day.

Monika Athare from Life Insurance Corporation of India finished third in 35:25.5. Kavita Raut, the training partner of Preeja, could not finish the race.

Preeja did the front running in the initial stages of the race before letting Monika take charge for a few laps. Preeja did regain the lead when the race entered the final phase. However, a gritty Suriya powered in the last 200m to win the race.

The 22-year-old Suriya, hailing from Pudukottai and working in Southern Railways, had already won the Inter-Railway title at Bhopal two weeks ago.

The men's 10,000m race was won by Inderjeet of Oil and Natural Gas Commission in a time of 29:42.76 in yet another closely contested race. Services runner Kheta Ram was second in 29:44.00 while defending champion Suresh Kumar, also of ONGC, finished third in 29:44.73.

The Day One, however, saw missing of three London Olympians in Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil (discus throw) and Mayookha Johnny (long jump) from action after initial confirmation to take part. MORE