An Ethiopian teenager’s scintillating run smashed the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k course record yesterday.

Tesfaye Debele knocked 24 seconds off the previous best when he stormed over the Centenary Square finishing line in 31 minutes and two seconds.

The 19-year-old, who is a member of Bradford Airedale Athletic Club, led the race from start to finish after going out in front when the event began at 9am.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus moments after he finished, Tesfaye said he was happy to have broken the record, before adding how windy it was out on the course.

“I’m very happy to have won,” he said. “I was hoping to finish in under 30 minutes but the wind made conditions difficult.”

His coach Stephen Wolstenholme, who said hopes were high for the teenager’s running career, said: “He set out to break the record and he obviously paced it really well.”

Mr Wolstenholme said Tesfaye had been in England about a month and was now living off Wakefield Road in Bradford. “I am delighted for him,” said Mr Wolstenholme. “He’s a nice fella and he has fitted in well at the club.”

Bingley Harriers member Stephen Broadbent, 38, of Saltaire, came second – his highest finish in what was his third appearance in the event.

He said it felt good to finish second, especially after being out injured recently, and praised the winner. He said: “He was in a different league – a really good runner. I had to leave him to it!”

Dean Jerome, 17, of Leeds City Athletics, completed the top three.

The first woman to finish was Jo Hall, of West Lothian, Scotland. The 25-year-old, who is originally from Barnsley, finished in 39 minutes and 38 seconds, and said: “It was good, but it was so hard – it was windy and hilly.”

The oldest runner was Tom Brittenden, 76, who finished in one hour and 36 seconds. The youngest runner was 15.

More than 1,000 runners savoured the warm, if a little blustery, conditions for the rearranged race. The original run was scheduled for March 24, but had to be postponed due to heavy snow.

The sixth annual Bradford 10k looks like raising about £45,000 to go towards supporting the 600,000 people affected by epilepsy in the UK.

Jay Patel, 57, of Bradford, spoke to the T&A before the race. He was gearing up for his third major run in three weeks, having done the London Marathon and the Madrid half-marathon this month.

He said: “I might as well go for a third one in a month! I am ready for it and I want to do it in under an hour, hopefully.”

Mr Patel completed the race in 58 minutes and 18 seconds.

Katie Stocks, fundraising events officer at Epilepsy Action, said: “This year’s Bradford 10k has been fantastic. Despite last month’s postponement due to adverse weather conditions, it was great to see so many people out enjoying the race. The total raised this year has been overwhelming. And it’s fantastic to see the course record being broken this year.”

Registration for next year’s Bradford 10K – which is on March 16 – is now open. To sign up, visit epilepsy.org.uk/bradford10k, or call 0113 210 8800.

 

Click here to see all the results for the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10K 2013