Betty Chepkwony wins Rome marathon in personal best time as Ndiwa dominates in Los Angeles

Kenyan marathoner Betty Chepkwony was on Sunday crowned the Acea Run Rome the Marathon 2023 champion after dominating the women’s elite race in a new personal best time of 2:23:02.

The 28 year old had to claim the World Athletics Label Road race in stunning fashion – as she trailed early on inside the 10km mark and halfway stage-where she trailed the Ethiopian trio of Zinash Getachew, Mulugojam Ambi, Jemila Shure by 17 seconds before pulling away in the next 10km stretch to mark her new personal best – dipping her previous best time of 2:30:28 that she set in the Istanbul Marathon in November 2021.

Chepkwony however was unable to smash the course record – which stands at 2:22:52, set by Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu in 2019.

Following the winner was a group of four Ethiopians led by Amid Fozya and Getachew Zinash who closed the podium places. The other Kenyan in the race – Brenda Kiprono finished sixth with a time of 2:38:26.

In the men’s race, Moroccan Taoufik Allam had one of his most memorable races as he shuttered his personal best, claiming gold in a time of 2:07:43 in what was just his third ever marathon race.

Allam previously had a leading time of 2:11:30 that he set in the Dublin marathon October last year.

Kenyan Wilfred Kigen finished second in 2:08:45 with another Kenyan- Rogers Keror wrapping up the podium places in 2:10:50.

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In other race results on Sunday, Kenya’s Stacy Ndiwa won the 2023 Los Angeles Marathon clocking 2:31:01 with fellow Kenyan Grace Kahura finishing third with a time of 2:38:19.

In the men’s race, Barnaba Kipkoech and Thomas Rono finished third and fourth respectively timing 2:14:28 and 2:14:49.