Kipkosgei opens up on Milan's win

Kenya’s Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei and Ethiopia’s Tigist Gebeyahu Memuye were the winners at the Wizz Air Milano Marathon, a World Athletics Label road race held on the weekend.

Kipkosgei crossed the finish line in 2:07:12, improving his personal best (PB) by 34 seconds, while Memunye won the women’s race in 2:26:32. The race was held on a new loop course, with the start and finish in Piazza del Duomo.

In the men’s race, a large lead pack went through 10km in 29:57 and the halfway mark in 1:03:42.

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Ten athletes were still in the lead group at 28km. Andrew Rotich Kwemoi, who won in Milan last year, made a move and reached 30km in 1:30:51, with only Kipkosgei, Isaac Kipkemboi Too and Raymond Choge Kipchumba able to stick with him.

Kwemoi surged away at 34km and held the lead until 37 km, when Kipkosgei caught him. Kipkosgei broke away from Kwemoi at 39km and held on to win in 2:07:12.

Kipchumba moved past Kwemoi at 40km to finish second in 2:07:36, with Kwemoi taking third place in 2:07:52.

“I am very happy to set a PB in such a beautiful race,” said Kipkosgei. “I was careful to save some energy for the final part of the race. When I took the lead, I found the energy to launch my final sprint.”

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Fantu Gelasa Shugi and Kuftu Dadiso Tahir took an early lead and went through 10km in 33:27 with a 23-second margin over Memunye.

Shugi surged away at 18km and reached the halfway mark in 1:10:34 with a gap of 26 seconds over Dadiso, while Memunye was a further 51 seconds adrift.

Shugi built a gap of almost two minutes over Memunye and reached 30km in 1:40:59, but her effort took its toll in the final stages of the race.

Sophy Jepchirchir from Kenya moved up into third, overtaking Dadiso at 30km. Then Memunye caught up Shugi at 39km and broke away from her compatriot in the final two kilometres before crossing the finish line in 2:26:32.

Jepchirchir moved past Shugi in the closing stages to finish second in a PB of 2:27:12. Shugi was third in 2:30:52.

“The win was totally unexpected,” said Memuye, who trains alongside world record-holder Tigist Assefa and world champion Amane Beriso. “I am very happy with my performance. This is my come-back after a long break due to injury.”

Leading results

Women

1 Gebeyahu Tigist Memuye (ETH) 2:26:32

2 Sophy Jepchirchir (KEN) 2:27:12

3 Gelasa Fantu Shugi (ETH) 2:30:52

 Men

1 Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei (KEN) 2:07:12

2 Raymond Choge Kipchumba (KEN) 2:07:36

3 Andrew Kwemoi Rotich (UGA) 2:07:52