Kenyan marathon runner Brigid Kosgei (© AFP / Getty Images)
Former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei produced the fastest time ever recorded in China at the Shanghai Marathon, clocking 2:16:36 at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (30).
The 31-year-old ran the third-fastest time of her career to win by more than two minutes from fellow Kenyan Irine Cheptai, who clocked 2:18:51. Kosgei becomes just the second woman in the history of the race to win in Shanghai.
The men’s race was a lot closer with Milkesa Mengesha winning by two seconds in 2:06:25, leading an Ethiopian podium sweep from Dawit Wolde (2:06:27) and Deresa Geleta (2:06:36).
Kosgei, who ran sub-2:19 to finish second in Hamburg and Sydney earlier this year, led the women’s race from the outset. She was joined by Cheptai and Ethiopian duo Tiruye Mesfin and Bekelech Gudeta during the early stages, passing 10km in 32:25.
By the half-way point, reached inside 69 minutes, Kosgei had just Cheptai for company. They ran together for several more kilometres, but by the time Kosgei reached 30km (1:37:08), Cheptai had started to drift behind.
Kosgei continued to pull away as the race progressed. By the time she reached the finish, she had a lead of more than two minutes over her compatriot, and she crossed the line in 2:16:36 – her fastest time in three years.
Cheptai finished in a season’s best of 2:18:51 and Mesfin followed a couple of minutes later in 2:20:38.
The men’s race played out in contrasting style with a group of 10 athletes running together through 10km (29:27) before reaching the half-way point just outside 63 minutes.
Deresa Geleta led through 30km in 1:30:14. The lead pack, now down to nine, included Milkesa Mengesha, Dawit Wolde, course record-holder Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba and China’s Feng Peiyou.
The pack was whittled down to seven men as they approached 35km, with Geleta pushing the pace. With about five kilometres to go, Geleta, Wolde and Mengesha had formed a breakaway trio.
Geleta started to fade in the closing stages, leaving Mengesha and Wolde to battle it out for victory. As they approached the final straight Mengesha kicked into the lead and charged across the line in 2:06:25, finishing two seconds ahead of his compatriot. Geleta followed in 2:06:36 to place third.
Leading results
Women
1 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:16:36
2 Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:18:51
3 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:20:38
Men
1 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:06:25
2 Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:06:27
3 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:06:36
