BRIEFS: Kenyan Raymond Bett takes Athens Marathon; David Tumo Barmasai and Helena Kiprop triumph in Nairobi; Kipsang wins in Franfurt...and more

NAIROBI (KEN, Oct 31): Little-known David Tumo Barmasai and veteran Helena Kiprop claimed the Sh1.5 million prize (nearly $20,000) as they were crowned winners of the 2010 Standard Chartered Nairobi International marathon. 

Barmasai clocked in this conditions impressive 2:10:31 ahead of Philemon Gitia (2:11:11) and Vincent Kiplagat Sittuk (2:12:09). 

In women race Kiprop, the Prague Marathon champion, won her first local marathon in also very good 2:31:11. Second was another more than experienced runner Leah Malot 2:33:41 ahead of Frashiah Nyambura  (2:35.09) and Magdalene Chemjor (2:38:19).

ATHENS (GRE, Oct 31): The unheralded Raymond Bett of Kenya broke the race record in the Athens Classic Marathon. In the 2500th anniversary year of the Battle of Marathon, Bett clocked 2.12.40, taking two seconds off the time run by his compatriot Paul Lekuraa two years ago. 

Pre-race favorite Jonathan Kipkorir was second in 2:14:05 and third Edwin Kimutai got 2:15:21 to make the Kenyan sweep on the podium.

FRANKFURT (GER, Oct 31): Excellent results at the 29th Commerzbank Frankfurt Marathon. Kenyan Wilson Kiprotich Kipsang won with a sensational course record of 2:04:57. The 28 year-old Kenyan clocked the tenth fastest time ever run at the distance and became the eighth fastest marathon runner worldwide in only his second marathon (debuted in spring in Paris with 2:07:13 as third). 

The Frankfurt Marathon became only the fourth marathon behind Berlin, Rotterdam and Dubai with a sub 2:05 course record. Tadese Tola (Ethiopia) was second with 2:06:31. Kenyans Elijah Chelimo (2:07:04) and Philip Sanga (2:07:11) took third and fourth at the finish-line in the “Stadthalle”. 

Also to note the 5th place of Ugandan Daniel Chepyegon in PB 2:08:24 and best European was the Russian Grigoriy Andreyev as 20th (2:14:08). The women’s race produced a world-class course record as well.

Kenya’s Caroline Kilel surprisingly beat the Ethiopian favourites clocking career best 2:23:25. Dire Tune was second in 2:23:44 (also PB) while defending champion Agnes Kiprop from Kenya was third in 2:24:07 (personal best). 

Fourth placed Isabellah Andersson improved her own Swedish record to 2:25:10 ahead of another Ethiopian favorite Mare Dibaba 2:25:27. Sixth place for Kenyan-born Dutch runner Hilda Kibet with personal best 2:26:23,

BRISTOL (GBR): Kenya’s double Olympic gold medallist Kip Keino is to visit Bristol next week to open a new stadium named in his honour and to seal a deal for his country’s athletes to train in the area before the London 2012 Games.

CASSIS (FRA, Oct 31): Kenyan Philemon Limo won the 32nd edition of Marseille-Cassis at 20.308 km in rain with 1:01:35. Second Ethiopian Belete Assefa (1:02:30) ahead of Kenyan Robert Ndiwa (1:02:35). Best home runner James Theuri achieved 1:04:45 as 9th. Kenyan women win for Diane Chepkemoi after 1:10:36

GLARUS (SUI, Oct 30): Kenyan wins at the 26th edition of the city race. Frederic Musyoki won the men´s 7.85 km in 23:09 and Jane Muia the women category at the same distance (26:45).

Courtesy Alfonz Juck /EME News