Kenyan men dazzle in 2023 Guangzhou Marathon

Kenyan male road race runners’ reigned supreme at the 2023 Guangzhou Marathon held in China on Sunday, December 10. 

Moses Kibet produced a spectacular performance to win the title in an impressive time of 2:09.01. His time was less than a minute slower than the current course record of 2:08.04 set by Ethiopian athlete Gebretsak Abraham Adihana in 2019. 

The 2021 Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris half marathon champion was closely followed by fellow countryman Felix Kibitok.

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Kibitok, who did not have enough gas to outpace Kibet in the final stages of the race, crossed the finishing line in a time of 2:09.50 with Ethiopia’s Kibrom Desta Habtu coming in a distant third in 2:12.57 in the warm conditions. 

In the women’s category, Ethiopian athletes ruled the streets of Guangzhou with Guteni Shone Imana leading her compatriots to a clean podium sweep. 

The 2015 Seoul Marathon winner opened a huge gap with less than 10 km remaining to the end of the race to reach the tape in an unofficial time of 2:28.30. 

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Her compatriots Chaltu Chimdesa Kumsa and Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa settled for a second and third-place positions respectively in 2:33.13 and 2:37.16. 

Elsewhere, Pamela Jepkosgei of Kenya obliterated the road at the 2023 Generali Maratón Málaga staged in Spain to clinch the title in 2:33.52. 

Moldovan long distance runner Lilia Fisikovici overcame a late charge from Swedish representative Hanna Lindholm to register a second-place position in 2:34.12 with Lindholm clocking 2:34.50.

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Kenya’s Charles Mneria won the men’s category ahead of Abdelilah El Maimouni and Musa Kipsoyan.

Finally, Kenyan men performed well at the Turkish-based Mersin Marathon, taking the top three positions.

Bernard Kipkorir won the race in a championship record of 2:09.30 ahead of Asbel Kiprop Ruto and Hillary Kipchumba. Ruto and Kipchumba finished the race in lifetime bests of 2:09.44 and 2:10.07 respectively.

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The women’s title went to Kenyan-born Bahraini international Ruth Jebet who also clocked a course record and a championship record of 2:23.06. 

Ethiopian duo of Yeneabeba Maru Ejigu (2:28:2) and Feyne Gudeto Gemeda (2:28:23) settled for a second and third-place finishes respectively.