Roto leads Kenyan sweep

Evans Ruto led a clean sweep by Kenya in the men’s race while pre-race favourite Dinknesh Mekash of Ethiopia clinched the women’s crown with ease in the 11th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here on Sunday.

Ruto clocked 2 hours, 9 minutes and 33 seconds to miss the course record — set last year by Jackson Kiprop — by a mere second as well as the bonus amount of USD 15,000. He had to be satisfied with the winner’s prize money of USD 41,000 out of the total fund of USD 3,60,000.

The 30-year-old Ruto was followed in second position by Lawrence Kimaiyo, who finished 12 seconds adrift of the winner, while the third spot was grabbed by Philemon Baaru, in 2:09:58. It was the eighth time in 11 years that a Kenyan stamped his superiority on the 42.195-km race. The second and third place winners received USD 21,000 and USD 15,000 respectively.

The women’s race was comfortably clinched by last year’s runner-up Mekash in 2:28:08, more than three seconds off the course record of 2:24:33 set by Kenya’s Valentine Kipketer last year. Mekash bagged the top prize of USD 41,000.

In second place was Kenya’s Gladys Kipsoi in 2:29:53 while Ethiopia’s Bizunesh Urgesa came third in 2:30:00. The duo received USD 21,000 and 15,000 respectively.

Ruto later said but for some “joggers” (amateur runners taking part in the marathon) coming in his way, he would surely have broken the course record set by Kiprop. “Yes (I would have broken the record). There were some joggers who came in the way and I had to move away from them. While running you have to feel free, but I will come again and try breaking the record next year,” he said.

“The weather was fine though it was windy on the bridge (Worli-Bandra Sea Link). But it became warm towards the end. They should start the race early, by 6:30 am.”
Results (full marathon, top five positions): Men: Evans Ruto (Ken) 2:09:33, 1, Lawrence Kimaiyo (Ken) 2:09:45, 2; Philemon Baaru (Ken) 2:09:58, 3; Stephen Chebogut (Ken) 2:10:56, 4; Ishhim Ael Bushendich (Ken) 2:11:18, 5.

Women: Dinknesh Mekash (Eth) 2:28:08, 1; Gladys Kipsoi (Ken) 2:29:53, 2; Bizunesh Urgesa (Eth) 2:30:00, 3; Etalem Ahu Kidane (Eth) 2:31:53; 4; Asnakech M (Eth) 2:32:42, 5.