Limo leads Kenyan sweep in Mersin Marathon in Turkey

Kenya’s Kenneth Kiplagat Limo took the honours at the Mersin International Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label road race, on Sunday in Turkey.

Running his career best of 2:10:12 in the Turkish Mediterranean city, Limo shaved more than one minute off the course record set last year by Morocco’s Hassane Ahouchar.

The 28-year-old was in a six-man leading group who covered 10km in 31:37 but fell 200m behind compatriot Hillary Kipchumba at the half-way mark which he reached in 1:06:18. After about 26km, Limo caught and overtook Kipchumba and was never challenged again. Kipchumba finished second in 2:10:43 while Bernard Cheruiyot Sang completed the Kenyan sweep in 2:14:46

In the first part of the women’s race, Ethiopian duo Konjit Tilahun and Chaltu Dida opened a gap of more than one minute when passing the halfway mark in 1:14:13.

Dida was dropped by Tilahun by 10 seconds at 30km. Tilahun went on to take the title in 2:33:18, Dida followed in 2:35:44 while Kenya’s Gladys Chemweno was third in 2:38:36.

Elsewhere, Amos Kipruto was placed third in the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K race in India. Kipruto edged out compatriot Eric Kiptanui for the final podium position. Both clocked 1:15:52. Ethiopian athletes dominated the event with Birhanu Legese and Bayelign Yegsaw taking top places. Legese clocked 1:15:48 with teenage compatriot Bayelign Yegsaw coming home second in 1:15:49. Another Ethiopian Dibaba Kuma won the women’s race in 1:27:34 ahead Ftaw Zeray (1:27:38) and Tanzania’s Failuna Matanga (1:27.45).