Kenyans boss Vienna marathon as records fall

Vivian Chepkirui (27) lived up to expectations as she raced to a new Personal Best (PB) at the same time smashing the course record at this year's Vienna City Marathon held on Sunday 23 April. 

Paced by her husband Wesley Kagongo, Chepkirui clocked 2:20.59 to cut off more than three minutes from her previous best time as she led a Kenyan sweep of the medals. She also broke the course record previously set at 2:22.12. 

Kenya's Ruth Chebitok clocked 2:21:03 for second place which was faster than the previous course record as well while Sheila Jerotich completed the podium places in 2:23:01.

This is Chepkirui's second win in the classic distance. In September last year, she won her debut marathon in Vienna with 2:24:19 in very warm weather conditions. 

Heading to the race, the 27-year-old said she was drawing her inspiration from training partner in Iten Joan Melly's performance last Sunday where she won the Seoul Marathon with a course record of 2:18.04.

She had predicted running a 2:20. That there were four women on the start list with PB's faster than hers did not stop her. 

Before the race on Sunday, Chepkirui had only run a single international race, finishing fifth in Santa Pola half marathon in 69:35, since her Vienna triumph in September and was fully focussed on defending her title in the Austrian capital. 

Meanwhile, Cosmas Muteti won the men's race. The 30-year-old prevailed in 2:06:53 hours ahead of his compatriot Leonard Langat who clocked 2:06:59 and favorite Oqbe Kibrom completed the podium places 2:07:25 from. 

Muteti improved his previous best time by almost two minutes but it was not enough to challenge Ethiopian Getu Feleke's men's course record of 2:05:41 set in 2014. 

Muteti, coached by former world record holder Patrick Makau had improved his PB to 2:08:45 in Berlin last year, where he took a fine fifth place in warm conditions before today's race. He has attributed his steady rise to Makau's guidance.