Kirui, Chirchir uphold Kenya's long-distance dominance
Barnabas Sigei leads Henry Chirchir and Philip Langat to the finishing line a past race. Chirchir won the Nagano Marathon on April on April 19, 2015. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Kirui is the 11th Kenyan to win in Hannover.
- Chirchir won the Hannover Marathon last year in 2:11:30
- Ndereba was the second Kenyan to finish almost 17 minutes after Jepkemboi crossed the line.
Jacob Chesari Kirui and Henry Chirchir upheld Kenya’s dominance in long distances races when they swept to victories at the Hannover and Nagano marathons respectively on Sunday.
Kirui made amends to his 11th placing at last year’s Frankfurt Marathon when he tore apart the Germany city course in 2 hours 09:31 minutes, beating Ethiopian Chala Adugna Bekele to second place by 10 seconds.
The 2012 Salzburg Marathon champion Martin Kiprugut Kosgey, who also the winner of the 2013 Marseille Marathon, wound third, eight seconds behind Bekele in 2:09:49.
Uganda’s Solomon Mutai (2:10:41) and Kenya's Augustine Kipkoech (2:10:44) wrapped up the top five vanguard.
Kirui is the 11th Kenyan to win in Hannover. Interestingly, Chirchir, who claimed victory in Nagano in 2:11:39, won in the German city last year.
KENYAN WOMEN FALL
No Kenyan woman finished in the top five in Hannover as Algerian Souad Ait Salem retained her title in 2:27:21 after winning last year's race in 2:33:09. Georgina Rono was the fourth and last Kenyan woman to have won in Hannover in 2011 after Evelyn Kimuria Cherotich (2005), Monica Muthoni Njeru (2007) and Fridah Lopeda Chepkite (2009).
In Japan, the front-running Chirchir passed the half mark in 1:05:21, 30km in 1:33:19 and 40km in 2:05:00 before winning as another Kenyan Beatrice Jepkemboi triumphed in women’s race in 2:34:02.
Chirchir won the Hannover Marathon last year in 2:11:30, but his personal best was set on his debut at the distance, clocking 2:09:24 in Cologne three years ago.
The race saw the return of two-time world marathon champion and former world record-holder, Catherine Ndereba making a comeback after three years. Ndereba was the second Kenyan to finish almost 17 minutes after Jepkemboi crossed the line. Ndereba, 42, who clocked 2:50:52 has in her last race over the distance, she timed 2:35:08 for 22nd place in Nagoya.
No Kenyans had won the race since 2012 when Francis Kibiwott and Pauline Wangui triumphed with Kibiwott returning a course record time of 2:09:05.
