An unexpected spike in temperature played spoilsport at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) yesterday. Contrary to expectations that Kenyan men will dominate the elite men’s full marathon event, it was the debutant from Ethiopia, Tesfaye Abera, who emerged as the surprise winner with a timing of 2:09:46 secs in his first-ever full marathon.


Tesfaye Abera is cheered as he approaches the finish line of the Mumbai Marathon yesterday. Pic/Sameer Markande 

Coming second was Ethiopia’s Dereje Debele clocking 2:10:31, but it was 2007 world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya who didn’t let the Ethiopians have a clean sweep with a timing of 2:10:57 to claim the third position. Since 22-year-old Abera had never run a marathon before, he was unable to maintain his pace on an unexpectedly hot and humid day.