Kiplagat and Barsosio take Istanbul Marathon titles

Evans Kiplagat of Azerbaijan and Kenya's Agnes Barsosio produced commanding victories at the 38th edition of the Vodafone Istanbul Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday (13).

Kiplagat, who competed in this race twice before, broke from a four-man pack after the 35th kilometre to win 2:13:36.

The 28-year-old went out fast, building a 20-second lead after just five kilometres. But then a race unfolded. Covering 10 kilometres in 31:07 and 20 kilometres in 1:02:28, the midway point was reached in 1:06:28, with Kiplagat and six others remaining in contention.

By 35 kilometres, four athletes remained: Evans Kiplagat, Shura Kitata Tola of Ethiopia, Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat and Felix Korir. Evans Kiplagat pulled away in the waning stages for a 38-second victory over Tola, who clocked 2:14:08. Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat was third in 2:14:31.

Barsosio's victory in the women's race was even more dominant.

Barsosio and Ethiopians Sechale Dalasa Adugna and Rahma Tuda were engaged in a three-way battle through the first half, reaching 15 kilometres in 53:08 and 20 kilometres in 1:10:49.

But soon thereafter, Barsosio forged on alone, building a two-minute lead after the 30-kilometre point. She continued to pad that cushion through the finish, winning by more than five minutes in 2:28:23.

Adugna was a distant second in 2:33:36, with Ethiopia's Rahma Tuda Chota another two minutes in arrears, clocking 2:35:43.

Arif Cetin (organisers) for the IAAF

Leading results

Men
1 Evans Kiplagat (AZE) 2:13:28
2 Shura Kitata Tola (ETH) 2:14:06
3 Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat (KEN) 2:14:31
4 Felix Kipchumb Korir (KEN) 2:16:25
5 Bernard Sang (KEN) 2:16:32

Women
1 Agnes Barsosio (KEN) 2:28:23
2 Sechale Delasa Adugna (ETH) 2:33:36
3 Rahma Tuda (ETH) 2:35:43
4 Esma Aydemir (TUR) 2:40:26
5 Fadime Celik (TUR) 2:40:30