Athletics
Titus Kipkosgei reigns supreme in Milan
Kenya’s Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei ran away with the men’s title at the 24th edition of the Wizz Air Milano City Marathon held on Sunday (07) in Milan, Italy.
The 25 year-old who came to this race with the second fastest time of 2:07.46 that he got last year at the Vienna City Marathon, where he won bronze medal, led 1-2 Kenyan podium finish as he dislodged the defending champion Andrew Rotich Kwemoi from Uganda who was also the fastest athlete on the entry list.
The race started on high note as the leading group of twelve went through the 10km in 29.56 but when they reached the half way mark they had dropped two as they passed in 1:03.43.
The group held on together until the 30km when Kwemoi, Kipkosgei, Isaac Too and Raymond Kipchumba Choge pulled away from the group the Ugandan had other plans as he engaged once his gear to leave the three gasping for fresh air. Kwemoi led the race for the next 4km but was caught up by the chase group led by Kimutai, who passed him in lightning speed that he could not respond to and held onto the lead, cutting the tape first in a new personal best of 2:07.12.
Kwemoi who thought he might finish in second place, was again passed by Choge who claimed the second slot in 2:07.25 with Kwemoi left with no other option but to close the podium three finishes in 2:07.52.
Ethiopia’s Dibaba Beyata and Geleto Tolosa finished in fourth and fifth place in respective time of 2:08.25 and 2:08.27.
In the women category Ethiopia’s Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu took the honors 2:26.32 and was followed by Kenya’s Sophy Jepchirchir in 2:27.12 with her compatriot Fanty Shugi Gelasa sealing the podium in 2:30.52.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Titus Kimutai (KEN) 2:07.12
- Raymond Choge (KEN) 2:07.25
- Andrew Kwemoi (UGA) 2:07.52
- Dibaba Beyata (ETH) 2:08.25
- Geleto Tolosa (ETH) 2:08.27
42KM WOMEN
- Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu (ETH) 2:26.32
- Sophy Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:27.12
- Fanty Shugi Gelasa (ETH) 2:30.52
