Double delight in Serbia as Kenyans rule Belgrade Half Marathon

Fresh from managing a third-place finish at the Bucharest half marathon six days ago, Kenya's Paul Tiongik clocked 1:04.19 to win the men's Belgrade half marathon held on Sunday 15 May. 

In the women's race, it was 24-year-old Lucy Mawia who led a Kenyan 1-2, clocking 1:11.54 to bag gold in a close finish. 

She beat Lilian Jepkemboi who clocked 1:16.53 for silver ahead of home runner Teodora Simovic who stopped the clock in 1:20.50. 

Mawia's time is second-best in the history of Belgrade marathon, 13 seconds slower than Serbian Olivera Jevtic's record. 

31-year-old Tiongik braved stiff competition from Ethiopian Jonas Kinde who clocked 1:07.24 for second place, beating Kenya's Stanley Kipruto who completed the podium places in 1:08.21. 

Meawhile, the classic men's distance was dominated by Ethiopians as Bihranu Fejisa won the 35th Belgrade Marathon in 2:12.59.

Compatriots Tesome Bekele was second in 2:13.39, and Debele Belda was third with 2:16.36.