The start of the Hong Kong marathon. PHOTO/IAAF
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 12- Despite losing the title to Ethiopian Melaku Belachew, Kenyans scooped seven out of the top ten slots at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Belachew smashed the course record, taking more than two minutes from his PB to win in 2:10:31, improving the race record by 56 seconds.
Compatriot Gulume Tollesa made it an Ethiopian double, winning the women’s race in 2:33:39.
On a day of perfect conditions for distance running, the men’s race came alive in the final 10 kilometres. It started with a conservative opening 10km of 31:58 before the pace picked up with 15km being reached in 47:03.
At half way, which was passed in 1:06:03, there were still 16 men in contention.
James Barmasai ran a few strides ahead of the main lead pack which included Belachew, defending champion Mike Mutai, 2009 world 10,000m bronze medallist Moses Masai, Julius Keter and Adugna Takele.
Commonwealth silver medallist Stephen Chemlany then joined Barmasai at the front and the two Kenyans opened up a gap on the rest of the field, passing through 25 kilometres in 1:17:34, about 15 seconds ahead of their pursuers.
The increase in pace also meant that they were on schedule to break the race record of 2:11:27, set on the old race route.
Barmasai gradually drifted back towards the chase pack while Chemlany forged on ahead, reaching 30 kilometres 19 seconds in front in 1:33:13. But the 14-man group behind soon began to reel in Chemlany.
The chase pack cranked up the tempo and Chemlany was eventually caught with several kilometres remaining. The large chase pack dissipated during the final 10 kilometres while Belachew and Keter broke away coming out of the Western Harbour Tunnel.
Belachew managed to open up a small but decisive gap at about 40 kilometres and he proved to have the superior finish as he went on to win in 2:10:31, crossing the line three seconds ahead of Keter as both men finished well inside the previous race record. Takele was third in 2:11:32.
Further down the field, Mutai – who had been hoping to retain his title by breaking the race record – finished sixth in 2:13:16 while Masai dropped out in the closing stages.
“I wasn’t expecting that before I came here, but after 33km I felt it was possible and I went for it,” said Belachew, who finished eighth in Hong Kong last year. “By about the 40km mark I knew Keter was tired and I still had plenty of power. I said, ‘I have to win this race’. It was all mental.”
Men results
1 Melaku Belachew (ETH) 2:10:31
2 Julius Keter (KEN) 2:10:34
3 Adugna Takele (ETH) 2:11:32
4 Julius Rotich (KEN) 2:11:44
5 Samuel Maswai (KEN) 2:12:50
6 Mike Mutai (KEN) 2:13:16
7 David Kiyeng (KEN) 2:13:29
8 Joel Kiptoo (KEN) 2:13:57
9 Abraraw Misganaw (ETH) 2:14:19
10 Benson Cheruiyot (KEN) 2:14:50
The post Kenyans scoop 7 of top 10 Hong Kong Marathon positions appeared first on Capital Sports.
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