Athletics: Kimetto, Kebede win Tokyo marathon

TOKYO: Dennis Kipruto Kimetto defeated defending champion and fellow Kenyan Michael Kipkorir Kipyego to claim his first victory in the Tokyo marathon yesterday. Kimetto, the runner-up in his debut at Berlin last year, kept a narrow lead over Kipyego in the last 10 kilometres before crossing the finishing line in two hours six minutes 50 seconds in his second full distance marathon. He led the Kenyan one-two-three finish with Kipyego finishing second in 2:06:58 and Bernard Kiprop Kipyego third in 2:07:53. The women’s race was won by Aberu Kebede in 2:25:34. Irina Mikitenko of Germany was third in 2:26:41. “I feel good and happy,” said Kimetto, “After I started, I tried to push the pacemakers. I felt I was sure of winning the race after 35 kilometres, so I just tried to keep my pace.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2013.