Fresh talent rule Nairobi Marathon

The annual Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon lived up to its tradition of producing new talent when little-known Peter Kosgei and Eunice Jeptoo won the men’s and women’s races on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Kosgei from Elgeyo Marakwet played his cards close to his chest up until the last 200 metres when he unleashed the hidden ace, brushing aside leaders Weldon Kirui and Elisha Kiprop to win in two hours, 12 minutes and 24 seconds in a photo finish.

Breathing down Kosgei’s neck, only four seconds behind him in second place, was Kiprop, who was making his third appearance after finishing 17th in 2011 and sixth in 2012. Kirui, winner of the 2012 Kass Marathon, settled for third position in 2:12:44.

Kenya Defence Forces (KFF) athletes dominated the women’s race as Private Eunice Jeptoo, who is based at Nyali Barracks, claimed victory in 2:43:05 after virtually staging a gun-to-tape lead.

Jeptoo, 30, consigned her Nyali colleague and former international Irene Kwambai to second place.

The 36-year-old corporal, 2004 Africa Championships 10,000m silver medallist and 2007 All Africa Games bronze winner over the distance, clocked 2:44:16.

The winning time was however the second lowest since Rose Jepkemboi Chesire’s 2:44:14 in 2007.

WINNER PRIZES
Kosgei and Jepto took home a Sh1.5 million prize apiece and second- and third-placed athletes in each of the categories Sh650,000 and Sh350,000, respectively.

Kapsabet’s Barselius Kipyego, 21, won the men’s 21km race in 1:03:12 and Lydia Naliaka Simiyu, 18, from Trans Nzoia, the women’s in 1:14:52.

Once again, the organisers failed to break the jinx in the 10km races. The police and guide cars led athletes in the wrong direction, ending up with different sets of finishers.

Even as David Wata (38:30.0) and Faith Chemutai (35:52.0) were declared winners, their timings were also controversial as the men’s time ought to have been faster than the women’s.

CAGEY CONTEST

The cagey contest that was the men’s full marathon saw an exchange of leads from the 15 athletes who were huddled for the better part of the race.

It was until the 37km mark that Kirui, who comes from Bomet, shot to the lead, dragging along Kosgei and Kiprop.

Kirui’s strength then began to ebb with Kiprop in tow. It was then that Kosgei summoned his strength to zoom past the two.

“I knew I had a good kick and I had some strength remaining,” said Kosgei. “It was easy for me to read their strength from behind them.

“I now want to get a manager and perhaps try out a major race next year.”

Kosgei, who was third in the 2011 Kass Marathon and improved to second the following year in the competition, represented Kenya as a junior in the 2007 World Cross Country in Mombasa.

“I wanted to control the race from the front and with no push from behind I took it easy,” said Jeptoo, who had only competed at the local cross country events at 1,500m on track for KDF.