Running News Daily

Melak and Moseti win Bangsaen 21 Half Marathon

Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak and Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti were victorious at the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, in Chon Buri in Thailand on Sunday (15).

Racing in humid conditions, Melak outkicked Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Geoffrey Toroitich in the closing stages to win in 1:02:32, while Moseti made her break earlier in the race to triumph in 1:10:01.

In the men’s race, eight athletes remained together as 10km was reached in 30:41, with Melak – who finished seventh in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships last year – running towards the back of the pack. The pace picked up and the lead group was down to four by 15km, with Melak, Munyao and Toroitich joined by Leul Gebresilase as they passed that point in 45:07.

Toroitich, Melak and Munyao then made a break, with Toroitich leading the attack. The trio ran side-by-side with the finish line in sight, before Melak kicked again and created a clear gap to win by two seconds.

Kenya’s Munyao was second in 1:02:34, while his compatriot Toroitich was third in 1:02:36 and Ethiopia’s Gebresilase finished another three seconds back.

Hamburg Marathon runner-up Moseti was always among the leaders in the women’s race and was part of the group that reached 10km in 34:36, led by Kenya’s Gladys Chepkurui.Chepkurui and Moseti had Uganda’s Rebecca Chelangat and Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru for company at the 15km mark, reached in 50:44, but Chepkurui couldn’t maintain the pace as Moseti, Chelangat and Wanjiru made a break.

Moseti was clearly waiting for her moment to strike and she made a winning move, creating a gap on her rivals that would grow to 33 seconds by the finish line. She won in 1:10:01 ahead of Chelangat in 1:10:34, Wanjiru in 1:10:53 and Chepkurui in 1:11:11.