Theuri, Mugo win in Mombasa
PHOTO | GIDEON MAUNDU Paul Maina Theuri from Nyeri celebrates after he won the men's 42km race during the Safaricom Mombasa International Marathon at the Mombasa Treasury Square on August 26, 2012.
What you need to know:
- I’m not happy with the time I posted because there was no one to challenge me, says winner
- Theuri and Mugo go home with a top prize of Sh200,000 each
- Both the winners and other athletes interviewed by the Nation after the race said hot humid Mombasa weather condition deprived them from returning fast times
Paul Maina Theuri of Nyeri clocked 2:12.16 on Sunday to emerge the men category winner of this year’s Mombasa International Marathon.
Hellen Mugo from Limuru, who finished third in 2010 event, won the women crown when she returned 2:37.16. The two athletes got away with a top prize of Sh200,000 each.
Theuri, 28, who finished 12th in the Kericho Marathon said he was happy to have won the 42-km Mombasa event but was not impressed with the time he took which he claimed was slow because he didn’t get a pace setter.
“When I reached the 30-km mark, I saw myself running alone and there was no opponent around me to push me up and finish the race in a fast time,” Theuri said, adding that the victory has given him morale to do well in future races.
Hellen, 28, who finished fourth during the China International Marathon last March also claimed she failed to get any serious opponents and that her victory was an easy one. “From the 10km mark, I went on to lead others till the finishing line,” she said.
Hellen disclosed that by winning the Mombasa event, she is confident of turning tables against already established marathoners. “I am looking forward to win another international race before the end of the year,” she said.
Finished second
Both the winners and other athletes interviewed by the Nation after the race said hot humid Mombasa weather condition deprived them from returning fast times.
In men’s category, Peter Kipyator Biwott of Iten finished second in 2:12.54 with Eldoret’s Daniel Kipkorir taking third position in 2:12.55.
In women’s event, Beatrice Chepkorir and Irene Cherop finished second and third in 2:37.25 and 2:38.02 respectively. Second placed winners for both the men and women categories each pocketed Sh100,000 with third placed taking away Sh50,000 each.
In 10km men race, Bernard Matheka from Machakos won it after clocking 34:54.76, followed by Charles Ogari and Jamin Ekai who returned 34:56.63 and 35:20.42.
Machakos runner Jane Mwikali won the women title after clocking 42:54.01 with Naomi Kipkemboi of Eldoret second (43:26.76) and Makueni’s Petronila Musenga finishing third (45:24.16).
