Tanzania’s famous marathon runner Alphonce Simbu won the men’s elite full marathon event while Kenya’s sensational runner Bornes Kitur bagged the women’s title at the Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. Simbu, who was participating in a full marathon after Rio Olympics, opined that all his past experiences helped him win the Marathon in India’s cosmopolitan and commercial city — Mumbai.
Simbu clocked two hours, nine minutes and thirty two seconds to clinch the gold. Kenya’s Joshua Kirkorir stood in second place with a time of 2:09:50. Kirkorir’s fellow compatriot Eliud Barbgetuny came third as he completed the fulldistance in 2:10:39.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Bornes Kitur won in the elite category as she clocked 02:29:02. Ethiopia’s Chaltu Tafa stood second as she clocked 2:33:03 while her fellow compatriot Tigist Girma took home the bronze with a time of 02:33:19.
The African runners have proved: Where there is a will, there is a way! It is a glory not just for Tanzania, Kenya and Ethioipia but the entire continent of Africa. Hopefully, the African diamonds continue to dazzle in the future too.
Among the Indians, Kheta Ram was the fastest among Indian men. Jyoti Gawte stood first in the Indian women’s category. Earlier, Olympian Kheta Ram had impressed with a time of 2:15:26 at the Rio Olympics in 2016. He stood first with a time of 2:19:51.Bahadur Singh came second with a time of 2:19:57. Th Sanjith Luwang of Manipur was in third place as he clocked 2:21:19.
Among Indian women, Maharashtra’s Jyoti Gawte finished first with a timing of 02:50:53 while Shyamli Singh from West Bengal came a distant second at 3:08:41. Jigmet Dolma from Leh-Ladakh, who was running in her maiden Mumbai Marathon, clocked 3:14:38 to finish third.
Results:
Men’s Elite: Alphonce Simbu (Tanzania) 02:09:32; Joshua Kirkorir (Kenya) 02:09:50; Eluid Barngetuny (Kenya) 02:10:39
Women’s Elite: Bornes Kitur (Kenya) 02:29:02; Chalu Tafa (Ethiopia) 02:33:03; Tigist Girma (Ethiopia) 02:33:19
Men’s Half Marathon: G Lakshmanan 01:05:05; Sachin Patil 01:06:22; Deepak Kumbhar 01:06:28
Women’s Half Marathon: Monika Athare 01:19:13; Minakshi Patil 01:20:53; Anuradha Singh 01:25:20.
