Mumbai Marathon: Kipketer siblings rule

Mumbai: Kenyan pacemaker Gideon Kipketer won the men’s full marathon in 13th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon with a new course record of 2:08:35. He easily broke the earlier record of Jackson Kiprop 2.09.32 set in 2013.

Incidentally Kiprop also had started pacemaker then, and was favourite to win Sunday’s race but the Ugandan finished seventh with a timing 2:14:54. Ethiopian Seboka Dibaba also ran below the earlier course record with a timing of 2:09:20 to win silver. Kenya’s Marius Kimutai completed the podium by clocking 2:09:39.

Gideon’s sister Valentine Kipketer holds the women’s course record (2:24:33) here. Valentine struggled midway but regained composure to finish third in the women’s full marathon clocking 2:34:07. Ethiopian Shuko Genemo claimed the gold comfortably by clocking 2:27:50 while Kenya’s Bornes Kitur bagged the second spot with a timing of 2:32:00.

Gideon was leading the pack of 16 until half way mark and he continued to set the pace. He acquired comfortable lead over Seboka in the last five kilometres and eventually kept a gap of 45 minutes till finish line.

Olympics spot for Gopi, Ram

Nitendra Singh Rawat emerged the best Indian athlete after clocking 2:15:48 in the men’s full marathon of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here on Sunday.

Uttarakhand’s Rawat who had already qualified for the Rio Olympics, will be joined by fellow Army Sports Institute athletes Gopi T. and Kheta Ram.

Indian female athletes gave better account of themselves with Sudha Singh emerging the fastest Indian in women’s full marathon. Lalita Babar and O.P. Jaisha followed her at second and third positions.