Africa-Press – Kenya. Geoffrey Koech and Viola Chepngeno prevailed as the men’s and women’s champions at the Boston Half Marathon on Sunday.
Despite the sporadic rain, Chepngeno unleashed a ferocious sprint to claim the women’s race in 1:10:40.
Ethiopia’s Bosena Mulatie settled for second place in 1:10:43 with team-mate Hiwot Gebrekidan completing the podium in 1:11:09.
Other Kenyan women in the race were Vibian Chepkirui (1:11:20) and Cynthia Limo (1:12:11) who placed fourth and sixth in respective times.
“I’m happy…so, so happy,” said a smiling Chepngeno. “The weather was cold but I am happy to have won.”
In the men’s race, a pack of a dozen runners led the race through 10km but Koech took the reigns at the 9-mile mark.
Tsegay Kidanu (Ethiopia), Zouhair Talbi (Morocco), and Teshome Mekonen (USA) did their best to keep close but Koech shook them off and went on to win in 1:02:02. Kidanu and Talbi rounded off the podium in 1:02:10 and 1:02:15.
“The race was good and I am happy to run in Boston,” noted Koech. He said he knew he had the victory at the 5km mark.
Other Kenyans in the race were Shadrack Kimining (fifth- 1:02:39), James Ngandu (eighth- 1:03:30) and Dennis Kipkosgei (17th- 1:06:04).
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