Edwin Kipruto and Viola Chepngeno emerged as the champions of the 6th edition of the Eldoret City Marathon, asserting their dominance in one of Africa’s most prestigious long-distance races.
Kipruto clocked an impressive 2:11:21 to win the men’s 42-kilometre race, while Chepngeno took top honours in the women’s category, finishing in 2:26:22. Both winners walked away with a grand prize of KSh 3.5 million, underscoring the event’s status as the highest-paying marathon on the continent.
Speaking after his triumph, Kipruto expressed his elation and credited his win to intense preparation and determination.
“I am very delighted to win this race. I had prepared myself well and hoped for the best,” Kipruto said. “At 15km the pace was too slow, so I had to break away. I pushed through the remaining distance and managed to triumph.”
Despite momentarily doubting himself at the 30km mark, Kipruto said he found strength when he realized his competitors were still pushing forward. A regular at international marathons, Kipruto recently competed in the Daegu Marathon in January where he finished 9th. He trains in Kaptagat, a region known for producing elite runners.
On the women’s side, Chepngeno was equally thrilled by her performance and praised the pacemakers for playing a crucial role in her victory.
“I am a very happy person today. The pacemakers helped set a good rhythm. I’ll now shift my focus to preparing for upcoming races,” said Chepngeno, who used her racing experience to secure the win.
First-time participant Sheilah Jebichi, who trains at Kapsait, came in a close second at 2:26:54.
“I never expected to win but was hopeful of a good performance. I’m glad with the result,” she said.
Men’s Top 5 Results
- Edwin Kipruto – 2:11:21
- Geoffrey Chirchir – 2:11:56
- Kipchumba Timothy – 2:12:08
- Korir Wilfred – 2:13:28
- Kiprop Kenneth – 2:13:51
Women’s Top 5 Results
- Viola Chepngeno – 2:26:22
- Sheila Jebichi – 2:26:54
- Gladys Koech – 2:29:55
- Ruth Wakabu – 2:32:52
- Joy Kemuma – 2:33:12
The 6th Eldoret City Marathon once again reaffirmed Eldoret’s reputation as a breeding ground for world-class long-distance runners, with top-notch organization and fierce competition marking the event.
Would you like a social media version of this story too?
0 $type={facebook}:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.