Eliud Kipchoge wins Delhi Half Marathon - global update
In his first race since winning the Olympic marathon title, Eliud Kipchoge claimed victory in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in 59:44, missing his PB by 19 seconds, informs organisers.
"The running conditions were good, my training was good and with the right guidance from my coach, I was able to win the race. Along the route the crowd was also cheering us and that helped to further motivate us," said Kenya's Kipchoge.
Ethiopia’s Yigrem Demelash was a close second in 59:48, with Kenya's Augustine Choge third in a big lifetime best of 60:01.
In the women’s race, Ethiopians took a one-two through Worknesh Degefa (67:42) and Ababel Yeshaneh (67:52) ahead of Kenyans Helah Kiprop (68:11), Gladys Chesire (68:23), Peres Jepchirchir (68:28) and Mary Wacera (69:06).
Top European finishers were Ireland's Paul Pollock (64:43) in 14th and Italy's Valeria Straneo (73:55) in 11th.
Ethiopian juniors defeated their established senior rivals at the Great Ethiopian Run 10km in Addis Ababa, informs organisers.
Abe Gashahun, 18, clocked 28:53 to defeat Kenya’s Jerome Lumbasi (28:54) and Adugna Takele (28:55). Lumbasi, 19, became the first Kenyan to finish on the podium since 2005.
Fotyen Tesfay, who finished fourth in the 3000m at the World Junior Championships, clocked 33:09 in the women's race ahead of Muluye Dakamaw (33:17) and top marathon runner Tadelech Bekele (33:25).
More than 40,000 runners took part in this year’s race.
Valary Jemeli Aiyabei took a gun-to-tape win in the Valencia Marathon in a lifetime best and Spanish all-comers record of 2:24:48 ahead of her Kenyan team-mate Nancy Kiprop (2:25:13).
Ethiopians Betlehem Moges (2:26:11) and Aberu Mekuria (2:27:41) were third and fourth respectively, with Marta Esteban the top home finisher in fifth in a lifetime best of 2:30:37. Reigning champion Beata Naigambo from Namibia was seventh in 2:33:10.
Kenyans filled the first four places in the men’s race with Victor Kipchirchir winning in a lifetime best of 2:07:39 ahead of his more favoured colleagues Gilbert Yegon (2:08:04), Peter Kirui (2:08:12) and reigning champion John Mwangangi (2:08:31).
Mathew Kisorio (2:13:27) and Solomon Yego (2:14:44) were ninth and tenth respectively, while Geoffrey Mutai and Sergiy Lebid were among the notable non-finishers.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei retained his Seven Hills Run (15 km) title in Nijmegen, winning in 42:08 by nearly a minute ahead of Eritreans Abrar Osman (43:04) and Hiskel Tewelde (43:06).
Kenya’s Geoffrey Ronoh was fourth in 43:28 with Abdi Nageeye the top domestic finisher in sixth in 43:45. Wilson Kipsang and Zane Robertson were late scratches due to injury.
Susan Krumins easily won a largely domestic women’s race as first European female since 1999 in 49:30 ahead of Jip Vastenburg (50:42) and Japan’s Kanade Furuya (52:08).
Kenya’s Morris Munene defeated reigning champion Yitayal Atnafu from Ethiopia in the Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon, 62:04 to 62:06, with John Loitang third in 62:13.
Zewdnesh Ayele led an Ethiopian clean sweep in the women’s race in a lifetime best of 70:21 ahead of Damaris Areba (71:59) and Gezmu Zenash (73:39).
Olympic 10,000m fourth-placer Alice Aprot took a commanding victory in the Campo a Traves Internacional de Soria.
Aprot covered the 8km in 26:18 to defeat Uganda’s Juliet Chekwel (27:30) and Poland’s miler Sofia Ennaoui (27:51).
Timothy Toroitich claimed his third victory in succession in this race over 10km in 29:10 ahead of teenager Aron Kifle (29:20) and Eritrean Goitom Kifle (29:44), with Sergio Sanchez the top domestic finisher in 29:52 ahead of European 5000m champion Ilias Fifa (30:09).
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