Kenya: Muneria Wins Malaga Marathon in Spain as Kenyans Rule Road Races in Busy Weekend for Athletics

11 December 2023
Capital FM (Nairobi)
By Omondi Onyatta

Nairobi — The 2016 Africa Cross Country bronze medalist Charles Muneria clocked a personal best of 2:08:54 to win the Malaga Marathon on Sunday as part of what was a plentiful harvest for Kenyans in various road races across the globe.

In second place was Moroccan Abdelilah Elmainouni who timed 2:09:48 as another Kenyan, Moses Mitei, came third in 2:11:31.

The triumph was Muneria's second in three months following his win at the Munster Marathon in Germany where he clocked 2:09:07.

In the women's race, two-time Daegu Marathon champion Pamela Rotich clocked 2:33:52 to take top honour as Moldova's Lilia Fisikovici (2:34:12) and Swedish Hanna Lindholm (2:34:50) finished second and third respectively.

Rotich's last race was at the Buenos Aires Marathon in September where she ran a faster time of 2:27:37 to finish third.

At the Guangzhou Marathon, it was redemption for Moses Kibet after he clocked 2:09:20 to clinch the men's race, ahead of fellow countrymen, Felix Kibitok (2:09:50) and Kibrom Desta Habtu of Ethiopia (2:12:57) in second and third respectively.

The win was an early Christmas gift for Kibet and a perfect way to wipe away the tears of finishing an underwhelming fifth at the Sydney Marathon in September where he clocked 2:13:28.

It was not to be for Kenya in the women's race of the same competition as Risper Chebet narrowly missed out on the podium places, finishing fourth in 2:38:31.

Ethiopian Guteni Shone Imana led a clean podium sweep for her country, timing 2:28:30 in first, ahead of Chaltu Chimdesa (2:33:13) and Yenenesh Dinkesa (2:37:13).

At the Mersin Marathon in Turkey, the 2019 Istanbul Half Marathon champion Bernard Kipkorir timed 2:09:33 to lead a clean podium sweep for Kenya in the men's race.

His compatriots, Asbel Rutto and Hillary Kipchumba clocked 2:09:46 and 2:10:11 to finish second and third respectively.

Paul Lonyangata was victorious at the Honolulu Marathon, timing 2:15:42 in first place as Eritrean Filmon Ande (2:16:01) and another Kenyan, Ruben Kiprop (2:17:32), finished second and third.

Cynthia Jerotich Limo clocked 2:33:01 to win the women's race as Ethiopians Sintatehu Getahun (2:35:16) and Kasu Bitew Lemeneh (2:36:04) took the next two podium places.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 Capital FM. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.