Keitany, Kipruto shine at RAK marathon

Abu Dhabi

The sixth edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the UAE on Friday morning saw Kenyan winners in both men’s and women’s contests but the runners were buffeted by strong south-easterly winds throughout, with mixed effects on the elite fields of Kenyans and Ethiopians.

After her global mark here 12 months ago, no better than a “solid run” was expected of Kenya’s Mary Keitany, so it was all the more surprising when the winner of last year’s Virgin London Marathon followed the pacemaking of Ethiopian Sulti Gure Timbre and her own husband of six weeks Charles Koech.

Tucked well behind them, she tore through 8km in 24:48, a full 8 seconds inside World record tempo.

WR steady pace

After passing 10km in 31:09 (30:45 in 2011 but WR steady pace would be 31:10), and with a lead of 1:14 from Georgina Rono, Gladys Cherono and Feysa Tadesse, hopes were raised by the fine form of the diminutive Olympic hopeful.

Soon after half way however, the combination of headwind and overly optimistic early pace, brought on shades of her New York Marathon demise last November; that third 5km segment took 16:03 but her pursuers actually lost even more ground and her 15km split of 47:12 (46:40 in her record run one year ago) saw her exactly two minutes up on the trio, still locked together.

The final unexpected event unfolded in the men’s race when 18-year-old Dennis Kipruto Koech, in his first race outside of Kenya, eased away from his rivals at around the 12km mark to build up an unassailable lead, crossing the line in an untroubled 60:40. It was a personal best by 40 seconds for the farmer’s son.

(IAAF)