Kenya's Kipyego (men's), Ethiopia's Wude (women's) win Delhi Half Marathon
Kenya’s Edwin Kipyego clinched the elite men’s title in the Delhi Half Marathon while Ethiopia’s Yimer Wude won the women’s race here yesterday.
Champion: Edwin Kipyego crosses the finish line in New Delhi yesterday.
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Kipyego, who won the Reading Half Marathon in April, completed the 21.097-km race in 1:00.55 hours to bag the $25,000 winner’s purse. However, he finished 25 seconds behind last year’s winner Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and 40 seconds behind another Ethiopian Deriba Merga, who set the course record in 2008.
Kipyego’s compatriots Leonard Langat and Silas Kipruto finished second and third respectively.
Among the elite women, 2010 World 10,000 metres Bangalore winner Wude emerged victorious with a timing of 1:11.10 while compatriot Waganesh Amare finished two seconds behind for second place. Kenya’s Helah Kiprop finished third, clocking 1:11.18.
Kipyego said the hot and humid conditions made the race tough. “I did not expect to win as everyone was running fast. I was keeping pace with the record till the 14-15 km mark, but after that I suffered because of the hot and humid conditions,” said the winner.
Wude also agreed with Kipyego and said conditions were not favourable for the runners. “I am very happy with the race. It was a good one. The conditions were not really great to race as it became very hot after a while. I ran hard and in the end I managed to sneak past Amare,” said Wude.
Rahul, Sudha win
Rahul Kumar Pal finished first amongst elite Indian men and 16th overall with a timing of 1:06.12. Nitender Singh and Indrajeet Patel came second and third respectively. Sudha Singh was the fastest woman among Indians, clocking 1:19.34, followed by 2007 and 2008 winner and course record holder Kavita Raut and last year’s champion Lalita Babbar.
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