Kiprop recaptures Stanchart Marathon title as Kipketer wins on her debut

Elisha Kiprop and Valentine Kipketer have held off stiff competition from a rich field to be crowned the 18th edition of the Standard Chartered Marathon champions.

Kiprop took two hours eleven minutes and seven seconds on the new course to win his second title having won it before in 2018 as well as two million shillings in cash prize. He timed 2:14:19 in the 2018 edition.

The race proved to be a close affair as Alfonce Kigen came in second in 2:11:11 while Joshua Kogo who led for the better part of the race finished third in 2:11:14

Kiprop revealed that he launched preparations aimed at recapturing the title in June and believes his success in the race will open him doors to run in revered races abroad.

"I am happy to have won the race for the second time. The victory is a fruit of the hard work I have been putting in training since June. I am sure that the feat will propel me to bigger races out there," he said.

Kogo who was the first runner up feels his chances of cutting the tape ahead of the rest were sliced down due to the sparsed water points on the course.He, however, vowed to work harder and boss the next edition of the Eldoret City Marathon. 

" The race was tough but it would have been easier had we had the water points spaced up within the required distance. I will proceed for a short rest and start plotting on how I will win in Eldoret," he said.

Kigen who trains in Kaptagat on the other had disclosed that the third place finish came courtesy of the seven-month long preparations.

Meanwhile, Kipketer is glad to have won in the ladies category on her debut and wrapped her season with a winners medal.

Kipketer clocked 2:30:01 with Naomi Maiyo coming in second on 2:32:22 while Beatrice Cheptoo settled for the third spot after timing 2:32:33 a time that elbowed out Rebecca Cheptegei of Uganda who was fourth out of the podium.

"It was my first time to run in the Nairobi Marathon. I knew it would be tough but I had trained well. I am happy to finish the season with a win," she said.

Maiyo regretted that her body failed her in the initial stages of the race and had to engage a higher gear in a bid to catch up with the rest. 

" My body took long to adapt and thus, I used a lot of energy in closing in on the rest who had pulled away. Nonetheless, I am happy to have finished second here considering that I did not finish in my last race," she said.