Nibret Melak celebrates his Bangsaen21 Half Marathon win (© Montri Boonyassat)
Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak and Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti were victorious at the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, in Chon Buri in Thailand on Sunday (15).
Racing in humid conditions, Melak outkicked Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Geoffrey Toroitich in the closing stages to win in 1:02:32, while Moseti made her break earlier in the race to triumph in 1:10:01.
In the men’s race, eight athletes remained together as 10km was reached in 30:41, with Melak – who finished seventh in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships last year – running towards the back of the pack. The pace picked up and the lead group was down to four by 15km, with Melak, Munyao and Toroitich joined by Leul Gebresilase as they passed that point in 45:07.
Toroitich, Melak and Munyao then made a break, with Toroitich leading the attack. The trio ran side-by-side with the finish line in sight, before Melak kicked again and created a clear gap to win by two seconds.
Kenya’s Munyao was second in 1:02:34, while his compatriot Toroitich was third in 1:02:36 and Ethiopia’s Gebresilase finished another three seconds back.
Hamburg Marathon runner-up Moseti was always among the leaders in the women’s race and was part of the group that reached 10km in 34:36, led by Kenya’s Gladys Chepkurui.
Winfridah Moraa Moseti wins the Bangsaen21 Half Marathon (© Organisers)
Chepkurui and Moseti had Uganda’s Rebecca Chelangat and Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru for company at the 15km mark, reached in 50:44, but Chepkurui couldn’t maintain the pace as Moseti, Chelangat and Wanjiru made a break.
Moseti was clearly waiting for her moment to strike and she made a winning move, creating a gap on her rivals that would grow to 33 seconds by the finish line. She won in 1:10:01 ahead of Chelangat in 1:10:34, Wanjiru in 1:10:53 and Chepkurui in 1:11:11.
Leading results
Women
1 Winfridah Moraa Moseti (KEN) 1:10:01
2 Rebecca Chelangat (UGA) 1:10:34
3 Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 1:10:53
4 Gladys Chepkurui (KEN) 1:11:11
5 Antonina Kwambai (KEN) 1:12:01
Men
1 Nibret Melak (ETH) 1:02:32
2 Alexander Mutiso Munyao (KEN) 1:02:34
3 Geoffrey Toroitich (KEN) 1:02:36
4 Leul Gebresilase (ETH) 1:02:39
5 Justus Kipkogei Kangogo (KEN) 1:03:55
Kebede retains 25km crown in Kolkata, Kissa beats Ebenyo
Sutume Kebede secured a second successive Tata Steel Kolkata World 25K crown, while Stephen Kissa beat defending champion Daniel Ebenyo to the men’s title in the World Athletics Gold Label road race on Sunday (15).
Ethiopia’s Kebede recovered from a stomach issue just in time to defend her title. She set a stand-alone world 25km best of 1:18:47 to win last year’s race and this time clocked 1:19:21 to triumph ahead of Kenya’s Viola Chepngeno and Bahrain’s Desi Jisa.
Kebede was challenged by 2022 winner Jisa and Chpengeno, but after Chpengeno started to fade over the final couple of kilometres, Kebede became a clear leader after 23km.
Chepngeno finished second in 1:19:48, while Jisa finished a distant third in 1:21:33.
“I am very happy to win (here) again,” said Kebede. “I wanted to break the course record but was a little tired of travelling. I am training for the next year and will participate in marathons.”
In the men’s race, Uganda’s Kissa rebounded to log his first win in an international competition in five years.
The lead group of Ebenyo, Benson Kipruto, Kissa and Haymanot Alew reached 10km in 28:42. Last year’s winner Ebenyo – who also set a stand-alone world best for 25km (1:11:13) when winning last year's race – looked strong, remaining at the helm or alongside Kissa for much of the race.
They reached 15km in 42:56, with Ebenyo and Kissa still leading the pack as the pace picked up along the tram tracks of South Kolkata. Kipruto dropped off as Kissa took the lead at the 20km mark, clocking 57:50, with Ebenyo close behind.
Ebenyo tried to move away from Kissa but the Ugandan athlete held off the challenge to sprint to the tape and win in 1:12:33.
Ebenyo finished runner-up four seconds later, while Anthony Kipchirchir came through for third place in 1:12:55.
“I realised that I ran well today,” said Kissa. “I thought this could be my day. At the last kilometre I was comfortable, and I knew I could do it.”
Ebenyo, who finished fifth on his marathon debut in Chicago in October, said: “Every day, a champion is born in sports. Last year, it was me. This year, it was Kissa. That is the fun of sports. I am very happy. He has flown the flag of Uganda and congratulations. I was a little tired this year as I did not recover from the Chicago Marathon. I will take a break for the festive season and spend time with my family. I felt some fatigue today, but it is sports.”
Ram Murali Krishnan (organisers) for World Athletics
Leading results
Women
1 Sutume Kebede (ETH) 1:19:21
2 Viola Chepngeno (KEN) 1:19:48
3 Desi Jisa (BRN) 1:21:33
4 Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH) 1:21:46
5 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 1:22:20
Men
1 Stephen Kissa (UGA) 1:12:33
2 Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 1:12:37
3 Anthony Kipchirchir (KEN) 1:12:55
4 Benson Kipruto (KEN) 1:13:25
5 Asbel Rutto (KEN) 1:13:36
