Kenyans rule 2017 Standard Chartered KL Marathon
KUALA LUMPUR: Kenyan runners as expected ruled the 2017 Standard Chartered KL Marathon, especially in the men’s and women’s open full marathon (42 kilometre) categories.
In the event which started and ended at Dataran Merdeka here yesterday, Kenyan runners dominated the top 10 places in the men’s category while the women’s category was also dominated by Kenyans although three Ethiopian runners broke their full dominance for the top 10 placings.
Cosmas Matolo Muteti clocked 2 hours 18 minutes and 43 seconds to beat compatriot and defending champion Kennedy Lilan and Tonui Kiprop, who finished second and third respectively with times of 2’19: 35s and 2’20: 38s.
“I did not dominate the race from start. I just ran behind the leading pace and I didn’t push forward but I realised that I could win when there was 5km remaining before finish. We were running at a pace of about 22km per hour.
“Towards the finishing line, I pushed hard to win. The race was tough, especially with the hot and humid weather, unlike last month when I took part in the Perlis Marathon,” said the 26year- old when met after the prize presentation.
The win was his second successive feat in Malaysia after he won the Perlis Marathon on April 30.
“I managed to better my time here. In the Perlis Marathon, I clocked two hours and 24 minutes,” said Muteti, adding that his previous personal best was two hours 22 minutes.
For hi s feat, he pocketed USD17,500 (about RM75,700) while Lilan walked away with USD7,500 (about RM32,432) and Kiprop had to be contended with USD5,000 (about RM21,621).
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Kenya’s Elizaberth Chepkanan reached the finishing line with a time of 2’ 36: 14s to beat another Kenyan, Vicoty Chepkemoi who clocked 2’40: 08s while Ethiopia’s Zeritu Begashaw Wakijira f inished third on 2’42: 56s.
They were awarded the same prize money as in men.
For the closed full marathon ( Malaysian Men’s and Women’s categories), the winners were Muhaizar Mohamad and Yuan Yufang.
More than 35,000 runners took part in the event which featured six race distances - Kids Dash (3km and 1km), 5km, 10km, Half Marathon and Full Marathon. — Bernama