TAIPEI, December 15 – Kenyan runners outshone their global competitors in both the men’s and women’s categories of the Taipei marathon Sunday.
Josphat Kamzee Jepkopol, who won the men’s race last year, defended the title after crossing the line in two hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds.
He was followed by Yemane Tsegay Adhane of Ethiopia in 2:14:17 and Julius Ndiritu Karinga of Kenya in 2:15:19.
The women’s race was controlled by the Kenyan runners, with Rebecca Kangogo Chesire winning in 2:33:20, while Racheal Jemutai Mutgaa came in second with 2:34:38 and Helena Loshanyang Kirop ranked third with 2:37:07.
Both Jepkopol and Chesire walked home with a cash prize of Tw$1.2 million ($40,430).
More than 70,000 runners participated in the event, with about 7,000 competing in the full 42-kilometre (26.2-mile) marathon and others running shorter distances, compared with 120,000 who took part a year ago.
Cold wind and drizzle had kept tens of thousands of amateur runners away from this year’s event, Taiwan’s biggest annual marathon, sponsor Fubon Financial Holdings said.