Jemima Sumgong prides herself on coming through in the clutch.

That's why she was so happy with how she captured the female open division championship at Saturday's 29th annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic.

The 20-year-old Kenyan, who now runs out of Chapel Hill, N.C., crept up through the field and pounced with less than three miles to go en route to crossing the finish line with a time of 1:12.13.

Sumgong's victory marked the fifth straight year a Kenyan native has walked away with the female's top honor.

"At the 8-mile mark I jumped up and got ahead," she said, wiping away sweat from her brow. "I like to fight my way back."

And that's just what the first-time Ogden entrant did Saturday in claiming her second race in as many weeks.

Last week, she raced to victory in a 5K near the Chapel Hill area. Saturday, however, was her first win a major U.S. race.

But Saturday's win didn't come easily thanks to another Ogden newcomer-Tatiana Belovol.

Fifteen years Sumgong's junior, Belovol jumped out to a strong start on the revamped 20K course, which drenched by a steady morning rain.

Joining the pair in the mix were 29-year-old Denisa Costescu-winner of last August's Debbie Green Memorial 5k Run/Walk for Leukemia-and Heather Bury-the 30-year-old West Virginia road racing standout.

A few miles into the race, the foursome broke away from the rest of the pack.

Bury was the first to fall off the pace and Costescu accepted the inevitable a few miles later.

That left Sumgong and Belovol locked in a one-on-one battle that wouldn't be decided until late in the race.

Belovol has finished high in many events across the country this spring.

She won the Plaza American Family 5K two weeks ago and she led most of the way Saturday on the streets of Wheeling.

But eventually, the course's bite, though tamed somewhat this year by its reconfiguration, took its toll.

"The hills were very intimidating...very difficult," Belovol, a native of The Ukraine, said.

Belovol was thwarted down the stretch by the younger Sumgong, who has only been in the United States for a few weeks after competing in many events internationally.

As the race entered downtown Wheeling, Sumgong pulled away and had a 28-second margin at the tape.

"The course was very nice," said Sumgong, who came to the Friendly City with a small group of runners from Chapel Hill.

One of whom was Fred Getange, who placed fifth in the men's open division.

She said would like to return in 2006 to defend her crown.

Costescu finished third, clocked at 1:15.43, while Bury was fourth with a time of 1:16.52.

Former Wheeling Central and Wheeling Jesuit distance ace Kristen Hetzel was seventh with a time of 1:27.35.