Lilan retains title

By DEVINDER SINGH | devinder@nst.com.my

BIG WINNERS: Kenyans dominate KL marathon

KUALA LUMPUR: DEFENDING champion Kennedy Kiproo Lilan retained his Standard Chartered KL Marathon title after leading home a Kenyan sweep of the men's podium at Dataran Merdeka here yesterday.

Elizabeth Jeruiyot Chemweno made it a Kenyan double celebration after a close finish in the women's marathon while Andrew Kiplamei Mutai and Alice Kabura Njoroge underlined the dominance of runners from the African country by winning the men's and women's half-marathon.

Malaysia is increasingly becoming a lucky hunting ground for Lilan, who, besides last year's KL Marathon, also won the Ipoh International Run half-marathon in 2010.

Lilan, 25, said he is looking forward to returning next year to attempt a hat-trick of KL Marathon wins.

"I am very happy to have won this marathon a second time. The weather today was good and I had very few problems on the route and was able to run my race as I planned.

"I think I want to come back next year to win the race again," said Lilan after receiving his prize from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Lilan, whose win is his second this year after the Bali Marathon in April, crossed the finish line in two hours, 14 minutes and 45 seconds, which was over five minutes faster than his winning time last year.

Compatriots Charles Mwai Kanyao (2:15:22s) and Japhet Kipchirchir Kipkorir (2:16:37s) were unable to keep up with Lilan and trailed in second and third respectively.

Elizabeth's margin of victory was much closer as she was pushed all the way by Ethiopian Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu before the Kenyan finished in 2:40:24s, just nine seconds ahead of the runner-up. Rose Kerubo Nyangacha of Kenya finished third in 2:41:00s.

Both Lilan and Elizabeth received US$17,500 (RM56,000) for their win, Kanyao and Tigist took home U$7,500 while Kipkorir and Rose settled for US$5,000.

RESULT

Men’s marathon: 1. Kennedy Kiproo Lilan (Ken) 2:14:45s, 2. Charles Mwai Kanyao (Ken) 2:15:22, 3. Japhet Kipchirchir Kipkorir (Ken) 2:16:37;
Local category: 1. Shaharudin Hashim 2:42:27s, 2. Fabian Daimon 2:49:01, 3. Foo Gen Lin 2:54:01;
Half-marathon: 1. Andrew Kiplamei Mutai (Ken) 1:08:10s, 2. Charles Kipkorir Kipsang (Ken) 1:09:26, 3. David Mutai (Ken) 1:09:26;
10km: 1 R. Venugopal 35:56s, 2 R. Muniandy 36:55, 3 Teh Kuok Yuen 37:07.
Women’s marathon: 1. Elizabeth Jeruiyot Chemweno (Ken) 2:40:24s, 2. Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu (Eth) 2:40:33, 3. Rose Kerubo Nyangacha (Ken) 2:41:00;
Half-marathon: 1. Alice Kabura Njoroge (Ken) 1:23:00s, 2. Unik Setyarini (Ina) 1:23:37, 3. Anne Qi Hui (Sin) 1:31:57;
10km: 1. Yuan Yu Fang 42:40s, 2. Pamela Chia 43:00, 3. Rachel Pepper 47:14.

Kennedy Kiproo Lilan crossing the finish line to win the Men’s category of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2012.

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Lilan retains title

BIG WINNERS: Kenyans dominate KL marathon

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