Running News Daily

Vitalis Kibiwott delivered the breakthrough performance of his career on Sunday, storming to victory at the Mersin Marathon and smashing the Turkish Allcomers’ record. The 27-year-old Kenyan clocked a stunning personal best of 2:07:14, improving both the national mark and the course record by nearly a minute.

In the women’s race, pre-race favorite Rebecca Tanui of Kenya lived up to expectations, winning convincingly in 2:25:35 under excellent weather conditions. The Mersin Marathon holds World Athletics Elite Label status.

Still relatively unknown on the international marathon calendar, the Mersin Marathon is held in the major port city of Mersin, located on Türkiye’s southeastern Mediterranean coast and home to just over one million people. The seventh edition of the race attracted just over 400 marathon runners, alongside approximately 2,000 participants in the non-elite 10K. Despite its modest field size, the event has steadily built a reputation for fast times on its flat, out-and-back course.

The headline name on the men’s start list was Ghirmay Gebreslassie, Eritrea’s 2015 world champion. However, the 30-year-old was forced to drop out at 18 kilometers after developing a hamstring problem. That opened the door for a surprise turn of events, as his 18-year-old brother Abraham Embaye boldly took control of the race, passing halfway in 63:52.

Embaye remained in front deep into the race, but with just over five kilometers to go, experience prevailed. Kibiwott steadily closed the gap before moving past the young Eritrean, followed shortly by fellow Kenyan Albert Kangogo. Embaye fought on gamely to secure third place in 2:08:29.

Kibiwott finished powerfully to claim the win in 2:07:14, slicing 59 seconds off the Turkish Allcomers’ record. A year earlier, Kenyan Bethwell Kipkemboi had won in 2:08:13. Coming into the race with a personal best of 2:11:08, Kibiwott had been ranked only 11th on the start list—making his near four-minute improvement all the more remarkable.

“My training was very good, so I was expecting to run sub-2:08 and fulfilled my expectations,” said Kibiwott. “The young Eritrean was far ahead early, but I didn’t hurry. I felt strong at the end and made my move. The Mersin Marathon has a completely flat and very fast course.”

Women’s Race

Rebecca Tanui took command of the women’s race early and reached halfway in 72:30, closely shadowed by Ethiopia’s Genet Robi. The two remained together until around the 30-kilometer mark, where Tanui gradually pulled clear to secure a decisive victory.

While the course record of 2:23:08 remained intact, Tanui’s 2:25:35 was the fastest women’s marathon time run in Türkiye this year. The 33-year-old continues to show impressive consistency at the distance, following her victory at the 2023 Košice Marathon (PB 2:21:08) and a runner-up finish at this spring’s Vienna City Marathon.

Results

Men

1. Vitalis Kibiwott (KEN) – 2:07:14

2. Albert Kangogo (KEN) – 2:07:26

3. Abraham Embaye (ERI) – 2:08:29

4. Samuel Naibei (KEN) – 2:08:59

5. Abebaw Desalew (ETH) – 2:09:14

6. Isaac Kibet (UGA) – 2:10:19

Women

1. Rebecca Tanui (KEN) – 2:25:35

2. Genet Robi (ETH) – 2:26:07

3. Peninah Jerop (KEN) – 2:30:52

4. Millicent Kibet (KEN) – 2:31:05

5. Letebrhan Gebreslasea (ETH) – 2:35:35