The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : John Kelai defends title

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John Kelai defends title

Special Correspondent

Third win for Seboka in Mumbai Marathon

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

RUNNING TO GLORY: Kenya’s John Kelai on way to winning the Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.

Mumbai: Kenya’s John Kelai and Ethiopia’s Mulu Seboka turned out to be splendid runners on the streets of the city in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here on Sunday morning.

Challenged by Ethiopian Tariku Jiffar and fellow Kenyan Philemon Boit right through the 42.195 km course, defending champion Kelai was in pursuit of Daniel Rono’s course record of 2.12.03s but abandoned plans once he had measured the strength of the front pack.

Kelai clipped around five seconds of his last year’s effort, finishing the 21km mark in a flat 65 minutes, but as the temperature soared from a cool 18 degrees to a warm 26, he decided against breaking from the lead group.

Sets record

The pocket-sized Seboka claimed her third SCMM title in four years with a new course record of 2.30.03s. Kelai and Seboka won $31,000 each.

“It was a good race and Kelai won a tactical battle,” summed up, Ian Ladbrook, Coordinator, International elite athletes.

Ram Singh shines

There was good news from the Indian camp with Ram Singh finishing 10th at 2.18.23s, an effort that confirmed his place for the Beijing Olympics.

Ram Singh was followed by Lyngkhoi Bining and Narender Singh. Lyngkhoi said he had to slow down because of a hamstring twinge after 20 kms and Narender said he faced the same problem after 35 kms.

Kelai paid handsome tributes to his two runners-up. “I gauged the strength of the pack straightaway. They were with me right through and almost till the home stretch and I realised they were of the same calibre like me. I felt that if I decided to break free initially, it would prove costly in the end. My priority was to break the course record, but unfortunately, it did not happen. The official clock did not work for a while, but I did not allow that to disturb me. I never thought about events at home in Kenya. If I had done that, I would have failed in my objective. My mission was to focus on the race and win. It was a good course. I think I can do it at 2.07 in Europe,” said Kelai.

The results:

Overall: Men: 1. John Kelai (Ken) 2:12:22s, 2. Tariku Jiffar (Eth) 2:12:27s, 3. Philemon Boit (Ken) 2:12:34s. Women: 1. Mulu Seboka (Eth) 2:30:03s, 2. Mogaka Kemunto Irene (Ken) 2:32:50s, 3. Toroitich Margaret Karie (Ken) 2.33.55s.

Indian: Men: 1. Ram Singh Yadav 2:18:23s, 2. Lyngkhoi Bining 2:24:49s, 3. Narender Singh 2:25:30s. Women: 1. Pashotlemia Devi 3:02:28s, 2. Dhiraj Indresh 3:08:11s, 3. Bhagwati Bhagwati (Ind) 3:15:58s.

Half marathon: Men: 1. Surender Singh (Ind) 1:05:43s, 2. Jutsi Utrianen (Finland) 1:05:57s, 3. Santosh Kumar IInd) 1:06:16s.

Women: 1. Kavita Raut (Ind) 1:16:36s, 2. Preeja Sreedharan Preeja (Ind) 1:16:38s, 3. Preeti Rao (Ind) 1:19:26s.

Corporate Sporting Challenge: 1. LIC; 2. Aditya Birla Group.

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