Geoffrey Toroitich defends his Malaga Half Marathon title

Kenya’s Geoffrey Toroitich defended his men’s title well at the TotalEnergies Malaga Half Marathon held on Sunday (10) in Malaga, Spain.

The 24 year-old who was the fastest athlete on paper on the entry list with a time of 59:19 that he got at this course last year, lacked a proper pacer that could have pushed him to lower his course time.

Torotich who dropped the pace maker, Barnabas Kipkoech Kosgei just after the first three kilometer due to slow pace, went ahead hand in hand with his compatriot Boniface Kibowott (who dropped out of the race), as they went through the 5km mark together and by the time they reached the 8k mark, he had dropped d Kibiwott as he was chasing time.

Torotich endured the harsh morning weather as he sailed through the remainder of the race alone, as he led a 1-2-3 Kenyan podium finish, cutting the tape first in 1:00.13 and was followed by Vincent Kipkorir Kigen, who came home in second place in 1:02.30 with the pace maker (Kosgei) sealing the podium three finishes in 1:02.32.

Double National champion Jonas Glans of Sweden and Denmark’s Jacob Simonsen finished in fourth and fifth place in 1:02.44 and 1:04.00 respectively.

LEADING RESULTS

21KM MEN

1. Geofrey Toroitich Kipchumba   (KEN) 1:00.13
2. Vincent Kipkorir Kigen              (KEN) 1:02.30
3. Barnabas Kipkoech Kosgei       (KEN) 1:02.32
4. Jonas Glans                               (SWE) 1:02.44
5. Jacob Simonsen                        (KEN) 1:04.00