Marathon Wrap: Kenyans triumph in Spain & Morocco as others stun viewers in Thailand

Kenyan road runners continued with their dominance in different parts of the world over the weekend. 

Sammy Kiprop Kitwara ran away with the 2024 Marrakech International marathon men’s title in a race which the locals shone.

The 37-year-old showed his opponents dust and went on to cross the finishing line in a time of 2:07.55 ahead of local boys Omar Ait Chitachen (2:08.45) and Mustapha Houdadi (2:09.38). 

Several miles away from Marrakech, Kitwara’s compatriots Bravin Kiprop and Vincent Kipkorir excelled at the Sevilla Half Marathon staged in Spain. 

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Kiprop won the hotly contested race in a personal best time of 59:21 with the debutant Kipkorir settling for a second-place finish in 59:48. Italian athlete Iliass Aouani crossed the finishing line in 1:01.32 to register a third-place position. 

In the women’s category, the Ethiopian duo of Alemtsehay Bimr Zerihun and Aberash Shilima took the first two positions with Italy’s Rebecca Lonedo coming in third.

Zerihun won the race in a championship record time of 1:07.59 with Shilima and Lonedo clocking 1:08.02 and 1:10.13 (personal best) respectively.

Kenyan runners also had a good outing at the 2024 Al Mouj Muscat road race held on Saturday, January 27 in Oman.

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Vitalis Kibiwott stopped the clock in a championship record time of 2:10.12 to win the men’s full marathon while Caroline Kimosop took the honors in the ladies category. Kimosop crossed the finishing line 2:33.05.

In the half marathon event, Kenya posted mixed results with Beatrice Begi clinching the title in 1:10.50 ahead of her fellow countrywoman Stella Mateiko (1:13.03) and Ethiopia’s Asmare Meswat (1:13.06).  

Ugandan’s Naman Kipyeko broke the tape at 1:10.17 to win the men’s half marathon race. Barnabas Kosgei and Abel Mutai who both hail from Kenya managed second and third-place finishes with each finishing the race in 1:01.51 and 1:02.16 respectively. 

Finally, Kenyan athletes shocked locals at the Thailand-based Buriram Marathon, scoping nearly all the top 10 positions in the men’s and women’s category.

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Mathew Samperu bagged the men’s title in 2:09.54 ahead of John Mwangangi (2:11.07), Geoffrey Kiprotich (2:11.22), Robert Kwambai (2:12.43), Titus Kipkosgei (2:13.53), Bernard Cheruiyot (2:14.52) and Panuel Mkungo (2:17.46).

Bernard Katui (2:19.35) and Alex Saekwo (2:23.11) settled for 8th and 10th positions with Ethiopia’s Mengistu G’hagn (2:20.43) being the only non-Kenyan runner who secured a top 10 finish.

Kenyan women were also incredible in Buriram with six of them finishing in the top seven positions.

Sharon Arusho Chelimo clocked 2:27.59 to win the race ahead of Caroline Jepchirchir (2:30.11) and Sheila Chesang (2:32.11). 

Sheila Chepkech (2:33.22) finished fourth ahead of Ethiopia’s Kidsan Alema (2:33.34) with Lina Jepkemoi (2:33.42)  and Mercy Kwambai (2:35.20) settling for sixth and seventh positions respectively.

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