Africa-Press – Kenya. Two-time Stanchart 42km race champion Brimin Misoi and Sally Kaptich won the Frankfurt Marathon titles on Sunday in Germany
Misoi led a Kenyan 1-2 finish in the men’s race in a new personal best time of 2:06:11, with compatriot Samuel Mailu finishing second in 2:07:19, also a personal best time. Ethiopian Derese Geleta was third in 2:07:30.
This is the first time that Kenya is earning a 1-2 finish in the race since 2013 when Vincent Kipruto led five Kenyan athletes to a clean sweep.
The winning time was also the fifth-fastest time ever in Frankfurt, just over two minutes away from the course record. This was also his fourth marathon victory in his career.
Misoi termed the race tricky, especially with the windy conditions which persisted for the duration of the race.
“The conditions were windy and cold but I executed the race well, especially in the final few kilometres,” he added. Misoi won Nairobi City Marathon in May in a time of 2:08:30, the 2018 Athens Marathon (2:10:57) as well as the Stanchart Marathon in 2017 and 2019.
In the women’s category, Kaptich timed her to win to perfection posting 2:20.00. Helah Kiprop finished second in 2:24:39 with Jackline Chepng’eno completing the podium positions in 2:25:14 . Kaptich said the fierce competition from the Kenyans energized her during the race.
“I knew the likes of Kiprop and Chepngeno were going to push me close so I had to run a strategic race and in the final five kilometers, I knew I had the speed to finish strong.”
Team Kenya have played second fiddle to Ethiopians with Mark Korir being the last Kenyan winner in 2016. The race had not been held for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic
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