Nashik girls race to victory

NASHIK: In what could be termed as one of the tightest finishes, two Nashikites Kavita Raut and her teammate Monika Athare completed the Vasai-Virar half marathon (21km) by clocking exactly the same timing of 1.22.03.
The organizers had to use a photo finish technique to determine that Raut be declared winner as she was marginally ahead of Athare.Both Kavita and Monika took an early lead in the race which also had other top national level long- distance runners such as Sudha Singh, Kiran Tiwari and Lalita Babbar in the fray.
Tiwari grabbed the third place while Singh had to give up midway due to exhaustion. It was Raut who kept Athare on her toes for the entire race.
“ I had to give my very best to stay in the reckoning. Monika’s challenge was such that she gave me no respite during the entire race. She is definitely one of the brightest upcoming stars in the country,” said Kavita.
While Raut became richer by Rs 2 lakh, Monika received Rs 60,000 in prize money. Having already won an Asian silver and bronze and a silver in the Commonwealth games, Raut said that while she failed to make it to to London this year, she had her eyes set on the next Olympics.
“She is slowly but surely getting into the groove. Her success at this event indicates that she is on a right path,” said coach Veejendra Singh who she trains with, at the SAI Athletic Centre at the Bhosala Military School.