Winfridah Moseti claims Bangsaen half marathon victory as Munyao settles for second

Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti took victory at the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Road Race in Chon Buri, Thailand on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, running against an elite pack, made an early break to triumph in 1:10:01, ahead of Uganda’s Rebecca Chelangat (1:10:34) and the race favorite- Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru (1:10:53).

In the men’s race, reigning London marathon champion Alexander Munyao was edged out by Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak in a sensational race that went all the way to the wire.

Munyao, who was hoping to end his year on a high in the humid conditions, was outkicked by Melak with the finish line in sight, settling for second place clocking 1:02:34.

Melak, a seventh-place finisher in last year’s half marathon at the World Road Running Championships, took the win timing 1:02:32, with another Kenyan - Geoffrey Toroitich - finishing third in 1:02:36.

The trio, who dropped Leul Gebresilase as they passed the 15km mark in 45:07, ran side-by-side with the finish line in sight, before Melak kicked for a second time to create a clear gap, eventually winning by two seconds.

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The women’s race was reverse in comparison, as Moseti made a winning move early on to break away from the lead group of Chelangat and Wanjiru that reached the 15km mark in 50:44.

The Hamburg Marathon runner-up would later win by 33 seconds.