Mateiko leads Kenya to a podium sweep in RAK Half Marathon

Daniel Mateiko early Saturday morning led a Kenyan podium sweep as he produced a dominant performance at the 17th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, winning it in a time of 58:45.

The 25 year old, making a return to the scenic track along the Al Marjan Island, beat out strong opposition on a misty day, to eventually improve on his second position in 2023 where he posted a time of 58:49.

His finish was five seconds faster than John Korir’s 58:50 time in second place, while Isaia Lasoi came in third clocking 58:55.

It was a fair bit of disappointment for last year’s defending champion Bernard Koech however, as he came home fifth and behind Ethiopia’s Gerba Dibaba in a time of 59:42.

The other Kenyan in the top 10 of what had been built up as a stellar lineup, was Japanese based Amos Kurgat who was eighth in 59:21.

Kenya’s fortunes in the women’s 21km was quite different as the Ethiopians reigned supreme; World Cross Country Championships Silver medalist Tsigie Gebreselama marking a personal best in a 1:05:14 finish.

Her previous best was 1:05:46 in Valencia last year.

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2020 champion Ababel Yeshaneh was second in a time of 1:05:44, with Tanzania’s Jackline Juma closing out the top three in 1:06:04.

The bigger disappointment in regards to star attractions was Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, reigning world half marathon and Olympic marathon, who could only finish seventh clocking 1:07:19, albeit marking a return from last year’s calf injury.

Discovery Kenya Cross-country championship winner this year Catherine Reline meanwhile timed 1:06:49 in sixth, while Evaline Chirchir was Kenya’s second top-runner Saturday in a fifth placed finish (1:06:36) behind former World Championships silver medalist Margaret Chelimo who clocked 1:06:31.