Sumgong and Kipchoge lead Kenya’s conquest in Rio Olympics

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates after winning the Men's Marathon athletics event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. PHOTO | OLIVIER MORIN |

What you need to know:

  • Keitany bounces back with third straight victory in New York City Marathon
  • It’s been a good year for Kenyan stars who conquered all before them at Games as Kipruto, Kiprop, Rotich win trophies in respective Diamond League Series races.
  • Kipchoge also broke the 30km World Record with a new time of 1:27:13 during the race.

The ending season is one which Kenya’s Olympic marathon champions Eliud Kipchoge and Jemimah Sumgong will live to cherish.

Besides their Rio Olympic exploits Kipchoge and Sumgong also won the London Marathon in April, feats that saw them claim their maiden awards in World Marathon Majors Series and Association of International Marathon Series (AIMS).

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates after winning the Men's Marathon athletics event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. PHOTO | OLIVIER MORIN |

Jemimah Sumgong

Rio Olympics marathon gold medallist Jemimah Sumgong arrives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on August 19, 2016. 

Photo credit: File | Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong celebrates her victory in the Women's Marathon during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. She has failed a drugs test. PHOTO | AFP

The season also saw Kenya’s elite athletes reign supreme on the track, especially in the Diamond League Series where Conseslus Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m) and Ferguson Rotich (800m) won trophies in their respective races.

However, it wasn’t a good year for Kenyan women in the Diamond League Series. For the first time in history, Kenyan women failed to win a trophy even though Olympic champion Faith Chepng’etich set a national record.

BEAT STRONG FIELDS

Kipchoge and Sumgong beat strong fields to win the London Marathon on April 24. London was part of the World Marathon Majors where Kenyan athletes performed well. Kenyans prevailed in Tokyo, Chicago and New York City but missed out on titles in Berlin and Boston.
After running alongside Stanley Biwott for most of the race In London, Kipchoge broke off to retain the title he won the previous year in a new course record and personal best time of 2 hours, 03 minutes and 05 seconds, eight seconds shy of the World Record.

Kipchoge also broke the 30km World Record with a new time of 1:27:13 during the race.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge crosses the finish line to win the elite men's race of the 2016 London Marathon in central London on April 24, 2016. PHOTO | JUSTIN TALLIS | AFP

Biwott finished second in 2:03:51 as the 2012 and 2014 champion Wilson Kipsang, who is also the former World Marathon Record holder (2:03:23) settled fifth with World Marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto (2:02:57) ninth.

Sumgong fell along with two-time winner Mary Keitany and 2010 winner Aselefech Mergia in the latter stages of the race.

However, Sumgong recovered to take the finish line in 2:22:58, in front of 2015 winner Tigist Tufa (2:23:03) while the 2011 and 2013 Berlin Marathon champion Florence Kiplagat settled third in 2:23:39.

Kenya's Jemima Sumgong wins the Elite Women's race of the 2016 London Marathon in central London on April 24, 2016. AFP PHOTO | JUSTIN TALLIS

Double World marathon champion Abel Kirui claimed his first major title when he outclassed defending champion Dickson Chumba to win Chicago Marathon in 2:11:23 on October 9.

Kenya swept all the first five places as Chumba, who is also the 2011 Rome Marathon and 2014 Tokyo Marathon champion, came in second in 2:11:26, followed by Gideon Kipketer 2:12:20, Paul Lonyangata 2:13:17 and Stephen Sambu 2:13:35.

After finishing third in London, Florence Kiplagat retained her Chicago marathon title in 2:21:32, beating another double World marathon champion Edna Kiplagat to second place in 2:23:28 followed by Mumbai Marathon champion Valentine Kipketer in 2:23:41 as another Kenyan Purity Rionoripo came in fourth in 2:24:42.

Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha welcomes two-time Chicago Marathon champion Florence Kiplagat at Eldoret International Airport October 12, 2016. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

SET COURSE RECORD

World marathon silver medallist Helah Kiprop set a course record in Tokyo Marathon in 2:21:27 on February 28 where Ednah Kiplagat had finished second. But Kenya’s Dickson Chumba lost his title to Ethiopian Feyisa Lilesa (2:06:56), finishing behind fellow Kenyan Bernard Kipyego (2:07:33).

After finishing a distant ninth in London where she had won in 2011 and 2012, Mary Keitany would redeem her image at the New York City Marathon on November 6 with a third consecutive victory in 2:24:26, running the last half of the race unchallenged.

Keitany became the only other woman apart from Norwegian Grete Waitz to have won the race three times. She edged 2012 London Olympics and 2013 World 10,000m silver medallist Sally Kipyego to second place in 2:28:28.

First place winner Mary Keitany (left) of Kenya and second place finisher Sally Kipyego of Kenya after finishing in the Women's Division during the the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon November 6, 2016. PHOTO | TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP

Kenyan men failed the test in men’s race in New York when World Marathon champion Ghimray Ghebreslassie from Eritrea claimed victory in 2:07:51, beating Lucas Rotich to second in 2:08:53.

The race saw defending champion Stanley Biwott from Kenya drop out before reaching the 15km mark.

Joyce Chepkirui, who had won women’s race at the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon, came in fourth.

It’s only Chepkirui who claimed a podium finish at Boston Marathon on April 18 while Cherangany Member of Parliament Wesley Korir was the top men’s finish in fourth.

Berlin Marathon held on September 25 proved a nightmare for Kenyans, with Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele and Aberu Kebede winning. Bekele came close to breaking the World record by six seconds, edging Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Evans Chebet to second and third places respectively. Janet Ronoh was the best placed Kenyan woman at sixth place.

In the Diamond League Series, 21-year-old Kipruto won six of seven steeplechase meetings.  His best showing was in Birmingham on June 4 where he won in personal best, world leading and meet record time of 8:00.12.

Kiprop’s victories in Doha, Eugene, Birmingham and Oslo were enough to see him retain his Diamond Trophy while Rotich’s victories in Shanghai and Stockholm.

Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto celebrates after winning the men's 3000m steeplechase race during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels on September 9, 2016. PHOTO | JOHN THYS | AFP

Chepng’etich broke the 1,500m national record twice in Shanghai and Eugene in 3:56.82 and 3:56.41 respectively but still couldn’t win the trophy even after another mile victory in Oslo.

The 2016 Athletes of the Year Eliud Kipchoge (second left) and Vivian Cheruiyot pose with their trophies joined by IAAF Vice President Melboum Kalkaba (left) and Athletics Kenya President Rtd Lt Gen Jack Tuwei (right) on December 7, 2016 at Panari Hotel. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

Coach Julius Kirwa (left), Vivian Cheruiyot (centre) and Eliud Kipchoge at the Athletics Kenya 2015-2016 Gala Awards on December 7, 2016 at Panari Hotel. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |