Kenyans dominate Gutenberg Half Marathon

On Sunday morning both course records were smashed at the Gutenberg Half Marathon Mainz and the men’s fight for victory ended in a spectacular and very rare dead race. 

Debutant Benson Mutiso and fellow-Kenyan Victor Kimutai stormed over the finish line in 61:01 and neither photos nor video material was possible to separate them. 

While both athletes shared victory Collins Kipkemboi followed in third with 61:38 and made it an all Kenyan podium.  

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There was more success for Kenyan debutants in Mains as Josephine Naukot won the race in 69:26 while Brenda Jepchirchir took second with 69:45. Both ran their first half marathon.

Belgium’s Hanne Verbruggen took a fine third place with a personal best of 70:15. Once again she was inside the qualifying standard for the European Championships in Rome next month. 

The new focus on the half marathon distance turned out to be an immediate success for the event that was the former Mainz Marathon. The fine winning times propelled the race up to second place in the current German rankings of half marathons. Only the Berlin Half Marathon has produced faster times in 2023 and 2024. 

“We have achieved the times we targeted and we showed that it is possible to run fast in Mainz. And there is quite some room for improvement," said Race Director Jo Schindler, who is also the Director of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon.

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Mutiso and Kimutai took the lead after the 12k point, with the former holding a slim advantage as his compatriot went ahead in the homestretch forcing Mutiso to accelerate for the dramatic finish. 

“I thought I was ahead," Mutiso, a 2:09:21 marathoner who was making his debut in the half marathon said. “My next goal is to run a fast marathon in October. I would like to go to Frankfurt for that." 

“We know each other well since we train together in one group in Iten. So it is fine for us to share victory," said Kimutai who ran a personal best in Mainz with 61:01. 

Behind Kipkemboi (61:38), fellow-Kenyan Patrick Kiprop took fourth place and also ran inside 62:00 minutes with 61:55.

“This was the best race of my career and my greatest victory," an elated Naukot said. “My next goal is to run a time between 65 and 66 minutes. I would like to come back to Mainz next year and further improve the course record. I am not thinking about the marathon yet.

The top five women in Mainz clocked personal bests in good weather conditions. 

Ethiopians Lelise Wakweya and Hadas Shimuye finished in fourth and fifth places with 71:17 and 72:39 respectively.

“My impression after this race is that there is huge potential in Mainz. We can build on this," said Elite Race Coordinator Philipp Kopp.