Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), the two-time Olympic 10,000m and four-time world 10,000m champion – 1st in 28:23 –
“It was good, it was a little bit windy but I stayed behind them to control the race and it was good with my good sprint at the end.
“I really am quite good (after his Paris marathon) – I’m healthy so it’s nice.
“I’m better but I still need to improve my speed so I’ll do some speed-work and I think I have enough time to prepare myself.
“If I’m invited, I’m willing to run here again and it was great to run past the Manchester United football ground, and there are amazing supporters here.
“I really want to try the 10,000m one more time and after that, I will fully go back to the marathon.
“Maybe I will (run the marathon against Kipsang), it depends on the organisation – if someone invites me, I’m willing to run – we have competed together many times.
“We will make a plan on where to run soon – I will go back to Ethiopia after this and I do not want too much travelling, I need to prepare myself.”
Wilson Kipsang (KEN), the world marathon record holder and Olympic marathon bronze medallist – 2nd in 28:28 –
“I’m not back in full training yet – after the (London) marathon (which he won in a course record), I took a rest for one and a half weeks and I was travelling a lot so it’s just been the two weeks training for here.
“It was still good for me – I knew he (Bekele) was very strong in the 10km but I prepared very well and I was feeling it in the last sprint, I could not keep up.
“Now I will prepare for the one half marathon (in the Czech Republic next month) and my next marathon in the autumn will be confirmed soon.
“When we (with Bekele) shall meet in the marathon, it shall be a nice time for me – I have a lot of experience in the marathon.
“You have a long way to try to apply the tactics so it will be nice to face him.”
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH), the two-time Olympic 10,000m and three-time world 10,000m champion – 1st in 31:09 –
“It was a very good run, it was a bit windy and I wanted a better time than this but otherwise, it was good.”
“I believe I have recovered (from her third-place finish in last month’s London Marathon) – I was ready for this race.
“I didn’t expect it to be fast as it was a bit windy.
“I haven’t decided where I’m running next but we’re working on it with my manager.”
Gemma Steele (GBR), the European cross country silver medallist – 2nd in 32:10 –
“I got a great buzz from it, it was electric coming down the home straight.
“I thought ‘I’m not going to let this one go’ – I was like a little jack russell when I got the bit between my teeth, that’s the way I do it, I just grind it out.
“I tagged onto the other two at the front then made a break away for myself, I didn’t want to underestimate myself again.
“I was disappointed with (finishing fourth) last year so I didn’t want that to happen today again so it was nice to make progress and get the tactics right on the day, which is important.
“My coach (John Nutall) is in Qatar and he told me to stay with the pack today so I went against that but I’m glad I went with my gut instinct and didn’t leave anything out there.
“My calf’s fine now and I’ve switched to Nike now and their shoes are doing me the world of good.
“I showed I still have some speed but the track’s not the priority – I love road running and I might do the New York mini 10km or the European Cup 10,000m next, and it’s also the Bupa London 10km next week so I need to have a word with my agent and coach.
“It’ll be nice to run a fast half marathon before I go to marathons. I might do the Dublin half marathon in August.
“I’m just trying to get my confidence back after the injury – I missed racing so much, I’m just happy to be back and anything’s a bonus really. I’m really proud and pleased about today.”
