by Alfonz Juck
Lawrence Cherono, photo by PhotoRun.net
MARATHON RESULTS
HONOLULU (USA, Dec 10): Reigning champion Brigid Kosgei from Kenya shattered Lyubov Denisova’s long-standing course record of 2:27:19 by over five minutes with victory in the Honolulu Marathon in 2:22:14 (71:50/70:24) ahead of teammate Nancy Kiprop (2:29:15) and former two-time winner Joyce Chepkirui (2:33:17). Less than two months after winning the Amsterdam Marathon in a 2:05:09 PB, Lawrence Cherono also won the Honolulu Marathon in a course record of 2:08:26 with splits of 65:02/63:24. Wilson Chebet (2:09:54) and Vincent Yator (2:10:37) were second and third respectively. World record-holder Dennis Kimetto was a DNF after passing through halfway in 70:42.
GUANGZHOU (CHN, Dec 10): Ethiopia’s Rahma Tusa won the Guangzhou Marathon in a lifetime best and course record of 2:25:12 ahead of compatriots Sifan Melaku (2:31:21) and Gebreyanesh Ayele (2:32:25). Kenya’s Dickson Tuwei won the men’s race in 2:10:03 ahead of pre-race favourite Markos Geneti from Ethiopia (2:10:06) and Kenya’s Edwin Koech (2:10:27).
MALAGA (ESP, Dec 10): A Kenyan double for Mike Kiprop (2:13:12) and Nancy Koech (2:31:50) in the Malaga Marathon.
REGGIO EMILIA (ITA, Dec 10): Rwanda’s Jean-Baptiste Simukeka won the Reggio-Emilia Marathon in 2:16:30 from Morocco’s Youness Zitouni (2:17:06) and Slovenia’s Rok Puhar (2:17:49). Ethiopia’s Maru Alemu Tsehai won the women’s race in 2:33:41 from Italy’s Laura Gotti (2:38:22).
PHUKET (THA, Dec 10): Japanese athletes dominated the inaugural Phukethon, the first annual running festival on the Thai holiday island of Phuket. Clubmates, Hiroki Kai 2:29:37 and Azusa Nojiri 2:54:07 were the winners.
MONTERREY (MEX, Dec 10): Ethiopian Absida Sori Bedada won the Powerade Monterrey Marathon in 2:13:29. Second Kenyan Rogers Ondaki 2:14:10. In women category Kenyan win for Risper Biyaki 2:45:18.
