Rotich wins Hamburg marathon, as Ngeno, Kirop star in China

LUCAS Rotich
Lucas Rotich of Kenya wins the mens event of the Haspa Hamburg Marathon.yesterday.[PHOTO:AGENCIES]

Kenya's Lucas Rotich admitted rain had put a dampener on his time as he won the Hamburg marathon yesterday.

The 25-year-old clocked two hours, seven minutes and 17 seconds over the 42.195km with Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea thirty seconds back in second and fellow Kenyan Stephen Chebogut finishing third at 44 seconds.

"The rain hindered a better time, but I am very happy and always tried to push," said Rotich, who is a 5000m specialist on the track.

The women's race was won by Meseret Hailu of Ethiopia, who won in 2:25:41, just ahead of Kenya's Sylvia Kibet in second and Namibia's Beata Naigambo.

 Meanwhile, Kenya's pair Ernest Ngeno and Helena Kirop triumphed despite soaring temperatures at the 2015 Yellow River Estuary International Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, in the Chinese city of Dongying yesterday.

With the thermometer reading over 30 degrees Celsius at times during the race, Ngeno upset a strong field including 10 sub-2:09 runners to win the men's race in 2:11:47.

The 20-year-old, who has a personal best of 2:10:01, finishing second at the 2014 Turin Marathon, held off a powerful challenge from his countryman Ishimael Chemtan in the final 200 meters to snatch the victory but just missed out on the course record of 2:11:44, set by fellow Kenyan Isaac Macharia in 2010.

"I was in my best shape and expected not only to win but also to run 2:08 here to improve my best time, but it was just too hot today," said Ngeno, who was disappointed at not being able to beat Macharia's rather modest course record.

Morocco's 34-year-old veteran Najim El Qady took an early lead soon after the gun, pacing the leading group of 16 to the 5km mark in 15:35 and then 10km in 30:30.

After reaching 20km in 1:01:15, only eight runners were left in the leading group At the halfway mark, the pack had been trimmed further to six, including five Kenyans, namely Ngeno, Chemtan, Robert Kwambai, Luke Kibet and the 2014 Kosice Peace Marathon winner Gilbert Kiptoo Chepkwony, as well as Ethiopia's Sentayehu Merga.

The leading group stayed together for another 10km before Kibet, Chepkwony and Kwambai were dropped one after another.