Kenyan's Peter Mwaniki Nueru wins Philadelphia half marathon in record time and Bernard Kiptoo Koech wins marathon
Kenya’s Bernard Kiptoo Koech flirted with the course record at the 30th edition of the Philadelphia Marathon held on Sunday (19) in Philadelphia PA his fifth marathon with no win managed to handle a nagging injury that he got two weeks ago when he won his first ever marathon in 2:14.26 missing out on the course record with one minute two seconds.
“I wasn’t expecting anything because I know the field was really competitive. But luckily, I don’t know what happened, unfortunately, they didn’t appear, so I was lucky to win,” said Koech.
Koech was followed by Joseph Whelan of United States in 2:14.98 with Sammy Rotich from Kenya closing the podium three finishes in 2:16.33.
United States Will Loevner and Pierre Billerot finished in fourth and fifth in respective time of 2:16.51 and 2:16.54.
Dennis Kipkosgei of Kenya who was making his debut over the distance and runs under the International Elite T.C stable that is managed by Keith Olson, finished in tenth place in 2:16.54.
The race course record of 2:13.28 set two years ago by Mike Chesire from Kenya remains standing.
Koech took home a cool Kshs 1,525,000 ($10,000) as prize money.
Peter Mwaniki Nueru, 25 set a new course record and won the half marathon on Saturday by nearly two minutes. He clocked 1:02:15. Peter trains at KATA (Kenyan Athletics Training Academy) in Thika Kenya (second photo in red jersey). Lawrence Kipkoech placeed second clocking 1:04:04 and Travis Mahoney finished third in 1:04:10.
Everlyn Kemboi was first female clocking 1:11:02.
Athletes ran along the Benjamin Parkway in the cultural Museum District and wind through Philadelphia’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods. From the history-steeped streets of Old City, through one of the liveliest stretches of Center City, across the Schuylkill River into University City, up through the bucolic trails of Fairmount Park, and back down to canvas the banks of the river before finishing in front of the renown Philadelphia Museum of Art . The course is also sanctioned by USA Track & Field.
The half marathon was added to Philadelphia Marathon Weekend in 2006 and has seen an increase in athletes every year since. Whether as a test-run for first-time marathoners or as a challenging race along a scenic course, the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon has given thousands of athletes the opportunity to take on the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend on their own terms.
posted Tuesday November 21st