Bengt Lofgren bade farewell to the Riyadh Road Runners and Riyadh itself in fine style last Friday, winning his final race at the end of his 12-year stint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Moments after being crowned Male Club Champion for 2015-16 by virtue of having won eight races during the season, Lofgren reinforced his dominance by leading his last race from the outset. In the female race, American Laura Blazek once again proved too strong for the competition, finishing in 15th overall out of 213 runners and over two minutes ahead of her nearest rival. In a highly competitive field with a number of Riyadh's strongest runners present, a group including Lofgren, Mark Saggers, Juan Aragones and Sam Richards formed and broke away in the early stages of the race, the rest of the field unable to live with their 3:45 min/km pace. As the runners reached the back corner of Bustan Compound, they were hit by a stiff breeze which was visibly throwing some lighter weight participants off their stride. However, this proved to be no impediment to Lofgren and co., who continued to distance themselves from all others. Behind them, the early stages of the women's race followed its usual pattern, with Blazek taking an early lead and club secretary Claudine Roghi falling in behind her, never quite within touching distance. As the lead group started the second lap of four, Lofgren's superior strength and conditioning began to pay off and he managed to open up a small gap to Saggers and Aragones. This was an unexpected move which caught out his nearest competitors, most of whom were aware that he typically works his way through the field instead of leading from the front. From here on, Lofgren's lead proved unassailable and he managed to open up a significant gap over Saggers in 2nd and Aragones in 3rd, finishing his final run in an impressive time of 38:29. Laura Blazek ran away from the field in the women's race, helped by the fact that her usual nearest rivals Claudine Roghi and Nikki Layne both had off days. Young Tannille Maclean managed to snatch 3rd spot, with an impressive show of distance running that bodes well for her in the future. Roghi finished in 2nd place and sewed up the Female Club Champion award in the process. The Riyadh Road Runners thanked the participants for helping the club set an attendance record. The club also thanked Bustan for the use of its venue, and Carrefour Tala Mall for its generous provision of race food and water. Male race: 1. Bengt Lofgren (SWE) 38:29, 2. Mark Saggers (GBR) 39:12, 3. Juan Aragones (ESP) 39:26. Female race: 1. Laura Blazek (USA) 43:37, 2. Claudine Roghi (NZ/FRA) 46:13, 3. Tannille Maclean (NZ) 46:26. — SG
