Running News Daily

Spanish elite runner sacrifices result to aid Kenyan runner

In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship at the 2023 Málaga Marathon in Spain on Sunday, Ricardo Rosado of Madrid, poised to become the first Spanish finisher, sacrificed a top-five finish to assist his competitor, Evans Kimtai Kiprono of Kenya, in crossing the finish line.

As Rosado approached the final few meters, he refrained from overtaking Kiprono, who was struggling with physical exhaustion and trying to stay on his feet. Instead, Rosado assisted Kiprono, slowing his pace and grabbing his rival by the waist. Rosado accompanied Kiprono through the last steps, ensuring he completed the marathon ahead of him, in fifth place. Rosado finished sixth.

While Rosado was awarded €1,000 for being the top Spanish finisher in 2:14:23, he sacrificed an additional €500 for fifth place to aid Kiprono. In an interview with Málaga Hoy, Rosado had no hesitation, stating, “The marathon is an experience, and he has been better than me throughout the day, so I thought he deserved to be fifth at the finish line. You identify with your rival; I would do it again.”

Race officials commended Rosado’s gesture. Javier Aguirre de Cárcer, Generali’s director of communication, said, “The gesture by Rosado just meters from the finish line to help a Kenyan athlete demonstrates the solidarity and values that make this sport great and with which we feel identified.”

According to El Mundo, Kiprono was immediately escorted to the hospital after finishing the race in 2:14:22, due to dehydration.

The race organizers acknowledged Rosado’s sportsmanship by awarding him the €500 corresponding to fifth place, even though he finished sixth. This was in addition to the €1,000 that he won for being the top Spanish finisher.

Double delight for Kenya as Charles Mneria and Pamela Jepkosgei win men’s and women’s Malaga Marathon

Kenyan runners Charles Mneria and Pamela Jepkosgei triumph at the Malaga Marathon in Spain.

There was double delight for Kenya at the 2023 Malaga Marathon as Charles Mneria and Pamela Jepkosgei Rotich won the men’s and women’s races respectively.

Mneria entered the race with an impressive resume and did not disappoint.

With the second-fastest time on paper and a lifetime best of 2:09.07 achieved at the Münster-Marathon just months ago, Mneria was a force to be reckoned with from the start.

From the initial gun, Mneria led a formidable group of nine athletes, showcasing his impeccable form and race strategy.

They cruised through the 5km and 10km marks in a blistering 15:03 and 30:03, a pace that threatened the existing course record of 2:07.36 set two years prior.

However, it was at the 33km mark that Mneria unleashed his true potential.

With calculated precision, he made his move, leaving the leading pack behind and charging ahead solo for the remaining 9km.

The spectators watched in awe as Mneria crossed the finish line, securing not only the victory but also a new personal best of 2:08.54.

It was a stellar performance that added another title to the 27-year-old Nairobi Marathon champion ever-growing list of achievements.

Morocco's Abdelilah El Maimouni, the fastest athlete on the entry list with a time of 2:09.48, had to settle for second place.

Maimouni displayed remarkable determination but could not match Mneria's surge in the closing stages. Crossing the line in 2:09.48, he secured a hard-fought second place.

Musa Kiprop Mitei, another Kenyan talent, completed the podium, finishing third with a time of 2:11.31.

The race also featured top runners from around the world, with Jonathan Akankwasa of Tanzania and Spain's Ricardo Rosado Villaverde claiming fourth and fifth places in times of 2:12.34 and 2:14.23, respectively.

In the women's category, it was a Kenyan masterclass once again as Pamela Jepkosgei Rotich claimed the top spot with a time of 2:33:52.

Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, as she exhibited unwavering determination throughout the grueling race.

Lilia Fisikovici of Moldova put up a fierce fight, finishing just seconds behind Rotich in 2:34:12, securing the second position.

Sweden's Hanna Lindholm displayed her prowess, capturing third place with a time of 2:34:50, while Vanessa Carvalho clocked 2:38:34 to secure fourth place.

Adding to Kenya's glory, Beatrice Jepkemei Cheburet crossed the finish line in fifth place with a commendable time of 2:42:47. 

Kenya’s Mark Korir smashed the record at the 14th edition of the Zurich Marathon that was held on Sunday in Malaga, Spain

Kenyan Mark Korir destroyed the race course by more than two minutes as he erased the previous record of 2:10.08 that had been set by compatriot Martin Cheruiyot in 2019.

The 36 year-old cut the tape in a new course record of 2:07.39 and was followed by Nguse Tesfaldet Amlosom from Eritrea who also ran under the old course record as he crossed the line in 2:08.23.

Solomon Kirwa from Kenya closed the podium first three finishes in 2.08. 43.