Running News Daily

Ethiopian Derara Hurisa breaks the Tata Mumbai Marathon record in borrowed shoes

Ethiopians Brihanu Testome, Ayele Abshero and Derara Hurisa chatted among themselves as they strode along the Tata Mumbai Marathon route, before Hurisa took charge to finish in two hours, eight minutes, nine seconds — under the course record 2:08:35 (Gideon Kipketer, 2016).

Hurisa earned $45,000 first prize, plus a $15,000 bonus for the record. He also dragged Ayele (2:08:20) and Testome (2:08:26) under the course mark. The first seven runners in men’s elite category finished under 2:10min in this IAAF Gold Label event, run along a slightly revised course, in cooler January weather and pushed by pacemakers for a major part of the race.

The women’s winner, Ethiopian Amane Beriso (2:24:51s) did not get on top of the conditions and struggled in the last phase. But, with the nearest challenger far behind, she held on to breast the tape first, but missed the course record of 2:24:33s (Valentine Kipkieter, 2014). She will also be richer by $45,000.

Long-limbed pace-setter Sylvester Kipketer loped ahead of Amane from start to finish, even alerted the Ethiopian to forget fatigue and put in a burst to the tape as the course record was within grasp till the end. Rodah Jepkorir finished in 2:27:14 for the silver while Haven Hailu bagged the bronze in 2:28:56.

The men’s race turned into an engrossing tussle, seven remaining in the lead pack after the pace-setters had exited. Defending champion Cosmas Lagat from Kenya also faded away, supposedly due to injury. Ayele remained the name to watch (personal best 2:04:23). “My body felt good at the 30km mark and thoughts in my mind changed from finishing to running in record-breaking time.”

However, running in borrowed shoes, Hurisa stole the show with a stunning burst to leave his fellow countrymen behind. The champion is a cross-country runner with no marathon experience. “I knew Ayele is experienced over this distance and looked to him to show the way. I kept telling him to take charge of the race. Sensing that he was holding back, I decided to finish,” said Hurisa, a World junior athletics participant for Ethiopia in cross country.

His shoes were borrowed from Abraham Girma, a fellow elite runner. “I lost my regular shoes in flight,” said the champion. The TMM is organized by Procam International.

(01/20/2020) Views: 2,114 ⚡AMP

The strongest fields ever assembled for the New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon will be gunning for race records

On the men's side, four entrants with sub-2:10 credentials will be on the start line targeting the 2:13:05 standard set by Kenyan Josphat Too in 2013.

Among the favourites is Kenyan Mike Mutai, the winner of the 2016 Hong Kong Marathon who also boasts podium finishes from marathons in Singapore, Hangzhou and Hefei. Mutai, 36, clocked his 2:09:18 lifetime best in Dubai in 2012.

Another contender is Ethiopian Abraham Girma whose 2:06:48 personal best set in 2012 makes him the fastest in the field. More recently, he clocked 2:12:46 in Porto last November, finishing fifth.

A third contender is Philip Kangogo of Kenya, who set his 2:08:16 lifetime best when winning the 2015 Barcelona Marathon in his debut over the distance.

Mathew Kipsaat, who clocked 2:09:19 at the 2017 Rome Marathon, is also in the field. 

Similarly in the women's race, five women with sub-2:30 credentials have been recruited to set their sites on Kim Jong-hyang's 2:34:53 race record set in 2014.

He Yinli (marathon world ranking: 164) of China is the fastest in the field with a personal best of 2:27:35 set at the 2015 Chongqing Marathon where she's finished on the podium twice. She clocked 2:31:14 at the Osaka Women's Marathon in January, her most recent race.

Kenyan Nancy Koech (marathon world ranking: 318) is another contender. She arrives armed with a 2:29:30 career best set at the 2017 Daegu Marathon, with wins at the Malaga, Copenhagen and Munster marathons to her credit.

Another Kenyan, Sylvia Medugu (marathon world ranking: 201), has a 2:29:09 personal best, set at the 2017 Frankfurt Marathon. 

(03/15/2019) Views: 2,290 ⚡AMP

New course record at the 39th Annual Copenhagen Marathon

William Morwabe (KEN) highlighted Sunday’s Telenor CPH Marathon winning in a new course record of 2:11:16.  The 26-year-old Kenyan put in an effective attack after 34 kilometers, leaving the three other runners in the leading group way behind. With a previous personal best of only 2:16:00.  Morwabe’s triumph was indeed a major surprise. “I did expect to run well – but not that well. I actually had no tactics before I pushed the pace at 34K. But I’m just so proud to win here today,” Morwabe said afterwards. At first, a new course record was not in sight. A group of ten runners led the race, splitting halfway in 66:13 minutes. At 28K, Collins Kipkorir Cheboi (KEN) then pushed the pace with only three runners able to keep up with him. Six kilometers later, Morwabe then set in the successful attack, and within a short time he had established a gap of more than ten seconds.  At 35K a new Danish All Comer’s record (2:10:37) was even in sight, but the sunny and warm conditions in the streets of Copenhagen (75F) proved to be anything but optimal. Abraham Girma (ETH) was runner-up in 2:11:30 while Paul Waveru Chege (KEN) set a PB of 2:12:25 to take third spot. In the women’s race, Shasho Insermu (ETH) took a solid lead early in the race. She struggled, however, to maintain the gap of a mere 15-20 seconds. Betty Chepleting (KEN) and Tesfanesh Terga (ETH) were a constant threat all the way, but Insermu eventually held the lead to the end winning in 2:32:18 – a little more than two minutes off her PB set in Ljubljana last year. 9.000 runners participated at the Telenor CPH Marathon. Next year will see the event’s 40th anniversary. Telenor Copenhagen Marathon - May 14th (05/13/2018) Views: 1,802 ⚡AMP

Kenyan Sylvia Kiberenge is expected to finish strong on Sunday at Copenhagen Marathon

Last year’s Telenor Copenhagen Marathon saw a new record set when Julius Ndiritu Karinga broke the tape with a time of 2:12:10. Karinga’s time at the top may be short-lived, as this year’s field features the largest group of elite runners ever to take part in the event, with at least three having personal best times faster than Karinga’s record-setter. Henry Sugut from Kenya and Abraham Girma from Ethiopia have both posted marathon times below 2:07:00, making them the fastest runners ever to tackle the Telenor Copenhagen Marathon. And it is not only the men that are expected to burn up the streets of the capital. This year’s field of women is also historically strong, with Sylvia Kiberenge expected to lead the way. The current women’s mark for the Telenor Copenhagen Marathon stands at 2:30:51.  Kiberenge finished the Frankfurt Marathon with a time of 2:29:09 last year.   (05/12/2018) Views: 2,004 ⚡AMP