Kenyans Dominate Fourth Standard Chartered KL Marathon

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Kenyan runners dominated the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2014 when they won the first three prizes in both the men's and women's categories, here Sunday. Defending champion Kennedy Kiproo Lilan of Kenya clinched the championship title of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2014 for the fourth time in the 42 km Full Marathon Men's open category. Lilan clocked a time of 2 hours 17 minutes 47 seconds, ahead of compatriots Geoffrey Birgen and Chelimo Luka Kipkemoi, who finished second and third respectively in 2'17:48s and 2'18:45s at the Dataran Merdeka, here Sunday. "This year's race was quite a challenging one for me. Winning for the fourth time in the KL Marathon was a great achievement for me. The weather was good compared to last year. I had been preparing for KL Marathon for three months. "Overall I am satisfied with the time. Next, I'll go to the Jakarta Marathon next month," Lilan told reporters after the event. Meanwhile, compatriot Mugo Hellen Wanjiku was triumphant in the 42 km Full Marathon Women's Open category, defeating Demes Alemtsehay Mefsin and Ruth Chemisto Matebo, both from Kenya too. Wanjiku completed the marathon in 2'43:22s while Mefsin clocked 2'43:59s and Matebo 2'44:32s. A total of 35,200 runners took part in the event which offered a total prize money of US$116,740 (RM376,534). The prizes were presented by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. For the Full Marathon Malaysian Men and Full Marathon Malaysian Women categories, the winners were Muhaizar Mohamad and Loh Choon Fern. List of winners in the 2014 Standard Chartered Marathon : Full Marathon Men's Open ------------------------ 1. Kennedy Kiproo Lilan (Kenya) 2 hours 17 minutes 47s 2. Geoffrey Birgen (Kenya) 2'17:48s 3. Chelimo Luka Kipkemoi (Kenya) 2'18:45s Full Marathon Women's Open -------------------------- 1. Mugo Hellen Wanjiku (Kenya) 2'43:22s 2. Demes Alemtsehay Mefsin (Kenya) 2'43:59s 3. Ruth Chemisto Matebo (Kenya) 2'44:32s Full Marathon Malaysian Men ---------------------------- 1. Muhaizar Mohamad 2'41.11s 2. Shaharudin Hashim 2'46.24s 3. Tan Huong Leong 2'47.23s Full Marathon Malaysian Women ----------------------------- 1. Loh Choon Fern 3'25:52s 2. Yuan Yu Fang 3'34.27s 3. Adele Wong Li-Peng 3:35.05s -- BERNAMA