Defending champion John Kelai of Kenya and Ethiopian Mulu Seboka emerged triumphant among men and women respectively in the fifth edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here on Sunday.

Kelei clocked two hours, 12 minutes and 22 seconds to finish just ahead of Ethiopia’s Tariku Jiffar (2:12.27) and Kenyas Phileman Boit (2:12.34), who were second and third respectively, to clinch the men’s crown for the second year running.

Seboka came home in two hours, 30 minutes and three seconds and was followed by Kenyan rivals Mogaka Irene (2:32:50) and Margaret Karie (2:33:55) in the women’s 42-km race.

India’s Ram Singh Yadav finished tenth by clocking 2:18:23, bettering his previous year’s performance. Binning Lynkhoi (2:24.49) and Narendra Singh (2:25.30) finished second and third respectively among India’s men competitors. The Indian women’s contingent lagged behind throughout and, unlike Ram Singh, none made a mark.

Devi Pashotlemia clocked 3:02:28 to be the best Indian woman finisher in the full marathon. Experienced Satyabhama got off to a good start but could not capitalise while Indresh Dhiraj, who performed well in the previous editions of the event, ended up second among the Indians while Bhagwati (3:15:58) was third.

Men's champion Kelai, who clocked 2:09:09 in the previous year, finished eleven minutes slower on Sunday in spite of being pushed hard by the trio of Daniel Rono (Kenya), K Amersisa (Ethiopia) and Boit - who dominated the proceedings initially.

At the half-way mark Rono (1:11:12) was in front, ahead of Mitei Enoch of Kenya and Amersisa.

An experienced Kelai made his move in the second half of the race to narrow down the leeway before taking over the reins just before the 32-km mark, with compatriot Enoch trailing in second position, and then held on to his advantage till the end.

In the men's half marathon, India's Surender Singh (1:05:43) emerged winner, who was marked throughout the race by Finnish runner Utrianen Jutsi, who finished 14 seconds behind him followed by Narendra Singh (2:25:30).
Indian women made a clean sweep of the top three positions in the half marathon with Nashik girl Kavita Raut (1:16:36) emerging the winner followed by Preeja Sreedharan (1:16:38) and Preeti L Rao (1:19:26) in that order.
Men: Full marathon (42 kms):  John Kelai (Ken, 2:12:22.21) 1; Tariku Jiffar (Eth, 2:12:27.98) 2; Philemon Boit (Ken,2:12:34.57) 3; Ketema Amersisa (Ken, 2:13:36.29) 4; Elijah Nyambuti (Ken,  2:14:27.94) 5; Enoch Mitei (Ken, 2:16:12.23) 6; Evans Ruto (Ken, 2:17:05.66) 7; Maluni Katio John (Ken, 2:17:34.52) 8; Zak Kinhara (Ken, 2:18:18.47) 9; R S Yadav (Ind,  2:18:23.33) 10.

Indian top 3: R S Yadav (2:18:23.33) 1; Bining Lyngkhoi (2:24:49.27) 2; Narender Singh (2:25:30.63) 3.
Half marathon (21 kms) (Top 7): Surender Singh (Ind, 1:05:43.57) 1; Jutsi Utrianen (Fin, 1:05:57.07) 2; Santosh Kumar (Ind, 1:06:16.05) 3; Soji Matthew (Ind, :06:43.43) 4; Gurusewak Singh (Ind, 1:08:07.73) 5; M D Yunus (Ind, 1:08:20.96) 6; Naresh Kumar (Ind, 1:09:13.75) 7.

Women: Full marathon (42 km): Mulu Seboka (Eth, 2:30:03.19) 1; Kemunto Mogaka Irene (Ken, 2:32:50.91) 2; Margaret Karie Toroitich (Ken, 2:33:55.69) 3; Winifridah Kwamboka (Ken, 2:37:34.12) 4; Haille Kebebush (Ken, 2:37:35.28) 5; Zebenay Moges (Eth, 2:37:35.92) 6; Nailya Youlanonova (Rus, 2:37:38.32) 7; Letay Negash (Eth, 2:39:52.13) 8;  Marashet Jimma (Fin, 2:40:41.76) 9; Katerina Stetsenko (Ukr, 2:43:09.60) 10.

Indian top 3: Pashotlemia Devi (3:02:28.06) 1; Dhiraj Indresh (3:08:11.28) 2; Bhagwati Bhagwati (3:15:58.45) 3.
Half Marathon (21 km) (Top 7): Kavita Raut (Ind, 1:16:36.81) 1; Preeja Sreedharan (Ind, 1:16:38.07) 2; Preeti L Rao (Ind, 1:19:26.51) 3; Kamlesh Baghel (Ind, 1:23:40.33) 4; Vaishali Chatare, (Ind,1:23:46.02) 5; Anuja Bijagare (Ind, 1:27:33.64) 6; Wiitich Karen (UK, 1:44:57.78) 7.