Double delight for Kenya as Mailu and Masai register wins in Vienna City Marathon

Kenyan marathoner Samuel Mailu on Sunday set a new course record as he breezed to the 2023 Vienna City marathon title in a time of 2:05:08 - breaking Getu Feleke’s record by 32 seconds.

The Ethiopian clocked 2:05:41 on his way to the 2014 title, but it was Mailu who eclipsed it with a brilliant split in the last kilometer to get his first win doing marathons.

Closely behind him was a full contingent of Kenyans who occupied the top seven positions with 2021 Berlin marathon silver medalist Bethwell Yegon coming in second in 2:06:57.

Another Kenyan, Titus Kimutai was third with 02:07:46 ahead of the pair of Joshua Kogo and Dominic Letting.

The leading pack had earlier been dominated by Bernard Cheruiyot and Dan Kiprotich and crossed the halfway point in 1:02:46 and soon got past the 25 kilometers mark at 1:14:14.

On the second run through the Prater around the 30-kilometer mark, the top lost touch with the record marching table, but then Mailu pulled away and from then on, going ahead to run in a record time in the 40th edition of the race.

Sunday was Mailu’s second race in the marathons after finishing an impressive second in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon.

It was double delight for Kenya in the women’s race as Magdalyne Masai made her comeback to the scene with victory, clocking 2:24:12 that was just outside her personal best of 2:22:16.

Another Kenyan, Agnes Keino and Ethiopian Gadise Mulu followed up in the second and third positions clocking 02:24:25 and 02:24:50 respectively.

Kamau features in Melbourne Victory's win over Macarthur

Race favorite Visiline Jepkesho was fifth in a time of 02:27:13 just behind Rebecca Tanui who came in fourth - clocking 02:26:34.

Little over a week ago 29-year-old Masai made her return since 2019 and showed fine form, when she clocked a half marathon PB of 67:07 in the Rome Ostia race finishing third.