JOIN USTanzania’s Alphonce Simbu won the men’s elite full marathon event while Kenya’s Bornes Kitur bagged the women’s title at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here on Sunday.
Simbu clocked two hours, nine minutes and 32 seconds to clinch the top spot ahead of Kenya’s Joshua Kirkorir (2:09:50) in a tough competition.
Kirkorir’s compatriot Eliud Barbgetuny came third as he completed the distance in 2:10:39.
Till 30 kms, the race was a toe-to-toe affair between the three top finishers. However, in the last stages, Simbu surged ahead and eventually won the race.
In the women’s category, Kitur won in a time of 2:29:02. Ethiopia’s Chaltu Tafa came second as she clocked 2:33:03 while her compatriot Tigist Girma bagged the bronze medal. Girma clocked 2:33:19.
Simbu, who had competed in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, said he trained in the hills in Tanzania for the marathon, which made him “perfect” for the race.
Among the Indians, Olympian Kheta Ram, who was eyeing to better his personal best of 2:15:26 he clocked at Rio last year, came first in 2:19:51.
Bahadur Singh came second with a time of 2:19:57 while Th Sanjith Luwang was third in 2:21:19. Elam Singh, also of Army, was the fourth in 2:21:27 while Rahul Kumar Pal was fifth with a time of 2:21:43.
Among Indian women, Maharashtra’s Jyoti Gawte finished first with a timing of 2:50:53 while Shyamli Singh from West Bengal was second way behind in 3:08:41.
Jigmet Dolma from Leh-Ladakh, who was running the Mumbai Marathon for the first time, clocked 3:14:38 to finish third.
Lakshman, Athare win
Tamil Nadu’s G Lakshmanan clocked 1:05:05 to win the men’s half marathon (21.097 km) race. The second and the third spots went to Sachin Patil (1:06:22) and Deepak Kumbhar (1:06:28).
In women’s category, Maharashtra’s Monika Athare clocked 1:19:13 to win the race.
DH News Service/PTI
Results: Men’s Elite: Alphonce Simbu (Tanzania) 2:09:32; Joshua Kirkorir (Kenya) 2:09:50; Eluid Barngetuny (Kenya) 2:10:39
Women’s Elite: Bornes Kitur (Kenya) 2:29:02; Chalu Tafa (Ethiopia) 2:33:03; Tigist Girma (Ethiopia) 2:33:19
Men’s Half Marathon: G Lakshmanan 1:05:05; Sachin Patil 1:06:22; Deepak Kumbhar 1:06:28
Women’s Half Marathon: Monika Athare 1:19:13; Minakshi Patil 1:20:53; Anuradha Singh 1:25:20.