Gladys Cherono wins Berlin Marathon
Kenyan Gladys Cherono reacts after crossing the finish line and winning in the women's category at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, 2017 in Berlin. PHOTO | MICHELE TANTUSSI |
What you need to know:
- Kenya's Gladys Cherono made it a Kenyan double when she reclaimed the Berlin Marathon title in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds on Sunday.
- Kipchoge had also reclaimed men's marathon title minutes earlier.
Kenya's Gladys Cherono made it a Kenyan double when she reclaimed the Berlin Marathon title in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds on Sunday.
Kipchoge had also reclaimed men's marathon title minutes earlier.
Kenyan Gladys Cherono crosses the finish line to win in the women's category at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, 2017 in Berlin. PHOTO | MICHELE TANTUSSI |
Kenyan Gladys Cherono gets medical assistance after crossing the finish line and wining in the women's category at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, 2017 in Berlin. / AFP PHOTO / MICHELE TANTUSSI
It was a replica of the 2015 event where both athletes prevailed.
Kenyan Gladys Cherono crosses the finish line to win in the women's category at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, 2017 in Berlin. PHOTO | MICHELE TANTUSSI |
Cherono broke out in the last 10km, hitting the 30km mark in 1:38:52 and 40km mark in 2:12:46 to win beating Ethiopia's Ruti Aga (2:20:41) to second place as another Kenyan Valerie Ayabei came in third in 2:20:53.
Cherono, the 2014 World Half Marathon champion, said she is please to make a return after two years, having battled a hip injury that saw her fail to defend her Berlin Marathon title last year.
Cherono, the 2012 Africa 10,000m and 5,00m champion, won the 2015 Berlin Marathon in a personal best of 2:19:25.
Kenyan Gladys Cherono (second left) gets medical assistance after crossing the finish line and wining as Ethiopian Ruti Aga crosses the finish line and takes second place in the women's category as Mayor of Berlin Michael Mueller (right) applauds at the Berlin Marathon on September 24, 2017 in Berlin. PHOTO | MICHELE TANTUSSI |
“I would have bettered my personal best or even break the course record,” said Cherono, a corporal with Kenya Defence Forces. Japanese Mizuki Noguchi holds the course record time of 2:19:12 set in 2005.
Cherono is the second Kenyan woman to have won in Berlin Marathon twice after Florence Kiplagat in 2011 and 2013. The only other Kenyan winner in Berlin is Tegla Loroupe in 1999.
