Former Rotterdam marathon champion Marius Kipserem defeated world half marathon record holder Abraham Kiptum to win the inaugural Abu Dhabi marathon held today in United Arab Emirates.
As former Boston marathon champion Caroline Kilel finished 5th as Ethiopians proved worthy on the course.
Kipserem, who won rabbis half marathon in Nandi braved the morning weather to beat Kiptum, who competed his first race after setting the world 21km record in Valencia, New York City marathon champion Stanley Biwott, former London marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai among others to win the title.
With his ambitions to stamp authority in marathon, the Nandi based runner won timing 2:04.4 ahead of Kiptum’s 2:04.16 for a 1-2 podium finish for Kenyan runners.
The 2011 Boston marathon winner Kilel fell behind Ethiopians and finished 5th in a race won by Ethiopia’s Abele Brihane followed by kenyan born turned Bahraini Eunice Chebichii Chumba and Ethiopian Gelete Bati.
Brihane won the race clocking 2:20.06 ahead of Chebichii’s 2:20.54 and Bati completed the podium timing 2:24.07.
Leading results
Men
- Marius Kipserem (KEN)-2:04.4
- Abraham Kiptum (KEN)-2:04.16
- Dejera Gonfa (ETH)-2:07.6
- Thomas Rono (KEN)-2:07.12
- Stanley Biwott (KEN)-2:09.18
Women
- Abele Brihane (ETH)-2:20.6
- Eunice Chebichii Chumba (BRN)-2:20.54
- Gelete Bati-2:24.07
- Chaltu Waka (ETH)-2:25.09
- Caroline Kilel (KEN)-2:29.14