M. KisengeBudapest 23: Bad day in office for Kenyan women marathoners as Ethiopians run show
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 26.08.23. | 11:01
Kenya last won the women's marathon title in 2019
Kenya’s bid to clinch the second gold medal in the ongoing 2023 World Athletics Championships failed after Rosemary Wanjiru finished sixth in the women marathon held on Saturday morning.
Wanjiru, the reining Tokyo Marathon was at some point leading the rest but she faded to a sixth-place finish, timing two hours, twenty-six minutes and forty-two seconds.
Selly Kaptich finished seventh after timing 2:27:09 while Shyline Toroitich was among the twelve athletes who did not finish the race
Ethiopian Amane Beriso Shankule ruled the streets of Budapest, after pulling away from the pack in the closing stages and subsequently opened a significant gap on her way to the tape.
Shankule clocked 2:24:23 to hand her country the second gold medal in the championships as well as ensured that the title remained in possession of Ethiopia.
Defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase claimed silver, 11sec behind, with Morocco's Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi taking bronze (2:25.17).
Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter finished fourth, just ahead of a third Ethiopian, Yalemzerf Yehualaw.
At some point, the Ethiopians looked destined for a clean sweep but Yehualaw ran out of gas when it mattered most with Gardadi and Salpeter breezing past her without a reply.
Kenya last won the women’s marathon in the World Championships in 2019 through Ruth Chepngetich.
With 10km to run, a lead pack consisting of Wanjiru, Salpeter and the four Ethiopians, Tsehay Gemechu, Gebreslase, Yehualaw and Shankule broke clear.
Gemechu then fell off the pace allowing her three Ethiopian teammates to go clear, with Wanjiru and Salpeter dropping 10 seconds as the east Africans surged.
The Ethiopian trio's lead doubled over the next 2km to the 36km mark.
Turning the screw, Shankule was the front runner with 5km to go, building up a small lead on Yehalaw and Gebreslase.
A fast-charging Gardadi moved into third as the final 2km loomed and Yehalaw tired.
But there was no such fatigue shown by Shankule, this year's Boston Marathon runner-up looking strong through to the line.
Additional reporting by AFP
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