History made at Stanchart Nairobi race

History was written as Irene Jerotich and Mosses Kigen set new course record for this year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi International marathon for both women and men race to take home Sh1.75 million each.

Kigen, the Rock 'n’ Roll Arizona Marathon champion, stopped the clock at 2 hours 10 minutes and 12 seconds to beat Samson Tuiyange’s record of 2:10.30 while Jerotich cemented her name in the folklore to first set a new course record of 2:28:57 and second became the first champion to reclaim the title in the seven year history of the race. Former women record was held my Emma Muthoni at 2:33.42.

Both Kigen and Jerotich got an additional Sh250,000 for running the fastest time in addition to the Sh1.5 million prize money for the winners.

Organisers will also be required to pay another Sh250,000 to women’s first runner’s up Alice Chelangat 2:30:38 for having run faster than Muthoni’s time. Sharon Jemutai Cherop 2:33:53 settled for third place. Cherop, was making her return to road race having gone through the motherhood nine months ago.

Irene Mogaka Kemunto 2:35:51 finished fourth ahead of both Rebby Cherono Koech 2:38:23 and Zeddy Chepkoech 2:39:37.

In the men race, Kigen was the second elite athlete to win the race in a row after Tuiyange last year. He beat Nathan Naibei, a former 3,000m steeplechase runner to second in 2:11:16 while Peter Kiplagat Sitienei came in third after 2:11:32.

It was Kibiwott Kwambai who took the initial lead going past the 10km mark in 27:52 well within the course record. The pace continued with Kiprotich Baiwo going through the halfway mark in 1:06 with about 16 athletes in toe. However, 28-year-old Kigen made his move after the 30km mark having tried twice to pull away without success.

“It is my third marathon. I came here looking for a fast time and not a win. But am happy I have been able to improve on my personal best and win the race. Now my manager will have no reason not to enter me in big city races because my time is fast enough. Next is Dubai marathon,” he said.

Kigen missed out on running in the Frankfurt marathon this year because organisers wanted somebody who had ran below 2:10.
Simon Mukum 2:11:39 was fourth edging out a late charge from Meshack Kosgei 2:11:45 and sixth placed Joseph Kimeli Lagat 2:13:15.

It had taken elite runners six years since the event was launched in 2003 to establish themselves as favourite in the altitude race ran at about 5,500 feet above sea level. However, changes in the route and an obscurity of the novice athletes had made it hard for fast times.

But the organisers settled on a flat course last year where Samson Kikwet Tuiyange (2:10.30) and Emma Muthoni 2:33.42 won registering the course record for men and women races respectively. Well that could only last for one year which forces the race director John Velzian to retract his statement of the time being too fast for anyone to challenge it locally.

For a country which has the world best 74 athletes out of the top 100, it was no contest for Jerotich and Kigen.

Last year, Jerotich had come close to making history, but her efforts ended up in tears as she was edged out by Muthoni in the last kilometre to finish second. However, there was no repeat of her mistake this time round as Irene Jerotich

For six years, the tradition was kept as Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon honoured new champions however, Sunday the rule book was thrown out of the window as Jerotich become the first woman to reclaim the title she last won in 2006.

“It is good to make history. The race was okay and I was comfortable with the rain. I had a knee injury that kept me out in 2007. Last year I made an attempt but was not strong enough, but today is great day for me,” said Jerotich.

Jerotich had to severe her links with manager Gianni Dimadonna when she got injured and now that she is back on the winning streak, she hopes to sign a lucrative contract.