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.

Tigist Assefa tipped for victory at Sunday’s Bangsaen21

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa headlines the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon women’s elite field, a World Athletics Platinum Label event, in Chon Buri on Sunday (15).

She will be joined by Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya and other elite athletes from across the world.

For Tigist Assefa, the race in Chon Buri is her first as an Olympic silver medalist. The former world marathon record-holder, who clocked 2:11:53 in Berlin last year, was a narrow second to Sifan Hassan in the Olympic marathon in Paris in August and prior to that she finished second in the London Marathon in April in 2:16:23.

She last raced a half marathon in 2022 and her PB of 1:07:28 dates back to April of that year.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak, Leul Gebresilase and Bazezew Asmare are also strong candidates for victory.

African 10,000m champion Nibret Melak, who finished seventh in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships last year, has a best of 59:06.

London marathon champion eyes season-ending glory in Thailand

The 2024 London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao is hoping to cap off his season with an emphatic victory as he takes on the Bangsaen Half Marathon in Thai- land this Sunday.

After a mixed year on the global stage, Munyao is determined to secure victory and build momentum for a demanding 2025 season.

“I am targeting a win in Thailand to close my season on a high note. This will motivate me for the busy 2025 calendar,” Munyao said.

For the 28-year-old, success in Thailand would provide a much-needed confidence boost, especially after finishing a disappointing 21st at the Paris Olympics with a time of 2:10:31.

However, Munyao remains wary of the tropical heat that awaits in Thailand, acknowledging it as a critical factor in his race strategy.

“The heat will be a big challenge on race day, with temperatures ranging from 23 to 30 degrees. I am not focused on clocking a fast time, as my goal is purely to win,” he emphasized.

Munyao admits his preparations for the race have been less than ideal, citing limited training time after competing in Japan’s 12 NIT- TAIDAI Challenge Games, where he clocked a 27:42.04 for a runner-up finish in the 10,000m in October.

“My training has been average since I competed in Japan. But I believe the work I have put in will suffice. I will do some light training before Sunday’s race,” he said.

Despite his confidence, he is mindful of the formidable competition.

“I expect tough opposition—it won’t be an easy race. But I’m confident I can pull off a win,” he said.

Munyao carries an impressive half-marathon record into the race, including victories at the 2020 Santa Pola Half Marathon ( 59:09 ) and the 2023 Kagawa Half Marathon ( 59:17 ).

He holds runners-up finishes at the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah ( 59:16 ) and 2021 Adizero Road to Records ( 59:20 ) Half Marathons.

In the women’s race, a titanic battle looms as 2023 Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru faces off against Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, the 2024 Olympic marathon silver medalist.

The two are no strangers to each other’s tactics having clashed at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, where Assefa stormed to victory in a course record of 2:15:37, leaving Wanjiru in second with 2:18:00.

Wanjiru’s road credentials are stellar, highlighted by her 2023 Tokyo Marathon triumph in 2:16:28 and a runner-up finish in 2024, clocking 2:16:14 behind Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede ( 2:15:55 ).

Meanwhile, Assefa holds back-to-back victories in the Berlin Marathon 2022 ( 2:15:37 ) and 2023 ( 2:11:53 ), as well as runners-up finish at the 2024 London Marathon ( 2:16:23 ).

Joining the fray, is the 2023 Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon champion Gladys Chepkurui, add- ing depth to a star-studded field.

Kenyan Athletes Shine Bright at Bangsaen21 Half Marathon in Thailand

The Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, a prestigious World Athletics Platinum Label road race hosted in Chonburi, Thailand, witnessed an exhilarating showcase of Kenyan excellence as Gladys Chepkurui and Mathew Kimeli triumphed in their respective categories under demanding weather conditions.

Chepkurui seized victory in the women’s division, displaying remarkable strength as she completed the race in 1:09:46. Her outstanding performance placed her comfortably 17 seconds ahead of her compatriot, Sheila Chepkirui, securing a standout one-two finish for Kenya. Meanwhile, in a fiercely contested men’s race, Kimeli held off Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew, crossing the finish line in 1:03:39, a mere six seconds ahead of Getachew’s 1:03:45.

The race kicked off with Chepkirui, the Berlin Marathon runner-up, and 2019 world marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich setting a rapid pace in the early stages. This dynamic duo led the pack, establishing a significant 14-second lead over Chepkurui and Angela Tanui at the 5km mark, reached in 15:39.

Undeterred by the initial gap, Chepkurui showcased unwavering determination, steadily gaining ground on her competitors. Surging past Chepngetich, she then overtook Chepkirui, seizing the lead at the 15km mark with a time of 49:13. Chepkirui couldn’t match Chepkurui’s pace, resulting in a 17-second difference at the finish line, where Chepkurui claimed victory in 1:09:46. Angela Tanui secured third place in 1:11:08, with Chepngetich finishing fourth in 1:11:51.

In the men’s event, Kimeli demonstrated incredible resilience in a fiercely competitive field. Initially part of an eight-runner pack that clocked 5km in 15:27 and 10km in 31:01, Kimeli faced a surge from Getachew after the 15km mark. However, Kimeli dug deep and eventually led a trio of runners towards the finish line.

In a thrilling final kilometer, Kimeli surged ahead of Getachew, securing victory in 1:03:39, a narrow six-second lead over the Ethiopian. Amos Kipruto, last year’s London Marathon champion, clinched third place in 1:03:52, while Kenya’s Nobert Kipkoech Kigen finished fourth with a time of 1:04:35.

The Bangsaen21 Half Marathon highlighted the extraordinary talent and determination of Kenyan athletes, showcasing their dominance and resilience on the international racing stage.