<p>It was never an easy task for Merga, who clocked 59:54 minutes to cover the stipulated 21.097 km, as compatriot Eshetu Wendimu and last year’s runner-up Wilson Kipsang of Kenya chased him closely throughout the race.<br /><br />Wendimu (1.00.02) finished second, followed by Kipsang (1.00.04), who came nowhere near his last year’s performance owing to a toe injury.<br />“Although I am happy to retain the title, I am not satisfied with my performance. I tried to push from beginning of the race but then slowed down a bit to the end,” Merga said after the race. The Ethiopian registered his personal best timing of 59.15 minutes at the event last year.<br /><br />Keitany, who won the World Half Marathon Championship in England recently, took one hour 6.54 minutes to touch the finish line bettering the previous record of 68.17 minutes.<br />Ethiopian Ayelew Wude (1.07:58) came in second, followed by compatriot Aberu Kebede (1.07:59). “It was a good performance on a flat track. I slowed down after 15km but later recovered well. I am satisfied with the performance,” Keitany said. <br /><br />Last year’s women’s champion Mergia Aselefech of Ethiopia clocked 1.10:02 to rank a distant ninth. Each winner bagged $25,000. Meanwhile, Armyman Deepchand Saharan (1.04:00) finished first among Indian men and overall 17th in the race.<br /><br />Deepchand, also a 2010 Commonwealth Games probable in the marathon event, was followed by Railwaymen Santosh Kumar (1.05:10) and Soji Mathews (1.05:18), who ranked overall 18th and 19th respectively. Uttar Pradesh’s Sukanya Mall (1.20:11) was the fastest Indian woman who finished 22nd overall. <br />Two of her statemates Anuradha Singh (1.22:07) and Kamlesh Baghel (1.23:43) finished behind Mall with overall standings of 24th and 25th respectively. Each of the Indian toppers were richer by $4,000.<br /><br />Results: Men: Overall: Deriba Merga (Eth, 59.54) 1; Eshetu Wendimu (Eth, 1.00.02) 2; Wison Kipsang (Ken, 01.00.04) 3; Tilahun Regassa (Eth, 1.00.37) 4; Titus Masai (1.00.43) 5.<br />Indians: Deepchand Saharan (1.04.00) 1; Santosh Kumar (1.05.10) 2; Soji Mathews (1.05.18) 3; Arvind Yadav (1.05.36) 4; Ajay Kumar (1.05.38) 5.<br /><br />Women: <br />Overall: Mary Keitany (Ken, 1.06.54) 1; Ayelew Wude (Eth, 1.07.58) 2; Aberu Kebede (Eth, 1.07.59) 3; Mamitu Daska (Eth, 1.08.07) 4; Peninah Arusei (Ken, 1.08.30) 5. <br />Indians: Sukanya Mall (1.20.11) 1; Anuradha Singh (1.22.07) 2; Kamlesh Bhagel (1.23.43) 3; Anuja Bijagare (1.25.05) 4; Shashtri Devi (1.26.26) 5.</p>
<p>It was never an easy task for Merga, who clocked 59:54 minutes to cover the stipulated 21.097 km, as compatriot Eshetu Wendimu and last year’s runner-up Wilson Kipsang of Kenya chased him closely throughout the race.<br /><br />Wendimu (1.00.02) finished second, followed by Kipsang (1.00.04), who came nowhere near his last year’s performance owing to a toe injury.<br />“Although I am happy to retain the title, I am not satisfied with my performance. I tried to push from beginning of the race but then slowed down a bit to the end,” Merga said after the race. The Ethiopian registered his personal best timing of 59.15 minutes at the event last year.<br /><br />Keitany, who won the World Half Marathon Championship in England recently, took one hour 6.54 minutes to touch the finish line bettering the previous record of 68.17 minutes.<br />Ethiopian Ayelew Wude (1.07:58) came in second, followed by compatriot Aberu Kebede (1.07:59). “It was a good performance on a flat track. I slowed down after 15km but later recovered well. I am satisfied with the performance,” Keitany said. <br /><br />Last year’s women’s champion Mergia Aselefech of Ethiopia clocked 1.10:02 to rank a distant ninth. Each winner bagged $25,000. Meanwhile, Armyman Deepchand Saharan (1.04:00) finished first among Indian men and overall 17th in the race.<br /><br />Deepchand, also a 2010 Commonwealth Games probable in the marathon event, was followed by Railwaymen Santosh Kumar (1.05:10) and Soji Mathews (1.05:18), who ranked overall 18th and 19th respectively. Uttar Pradesh’s Sukanya Mall (1.20:11) was the fastest Indian woman who finished 22nd overall. <br />Two of her statemates Anuradha Singh (1.22:07) and Kamlesh Baghel (1.23:43) finished behind Mall with overall standings of 24th and 25th respectively. Each of the Indian toppers were richer by $4,000.<br /><br />Results: Men: Overall: Deriba Merga (Eth, 59.54) 1; Eshetu Wendimu (Eth, 1.00.02) 2; Wison Kipsang (Ken, 01.00.04) 3; Tilahun Regassa (Eth, 1.00.37) 4; Titus Masai (1.00.43) 5.<br />Indians: Deepchand Saharan (1.04.00) 1; Santosh Kumar (1.05.10) 2; Soji Mathews (1.05.18) 3; Arvind Yadav (1.05.36) 4; Ajay Kumar (1.05.38) 5.<br /><br />Women: <br />Overall: Mary Keitany (Ken, 1.06.54) 1; Ayelew Wude (Eth, 1.07.58) 2; Aberu Kebede (Eth, 1.07.59) 3; Mamitu Daska (Eth, 1.08.07) 4; Peninah Arusei (Ken, 1.08.30) 5. <br />Indians: Sukanya Mall (1.20.11) 1; Anuradha Singh (1.22.07) 2; Kamlesh Bhagel (1.23.43) 3; Anuja Bijagare (1.25.05) 4; Shashtri Devi (1.26.26) 5.</p>
