News07 Dec 2008


Kibet cracks course record at Singapore Marathon

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Luke Kibet bounces back with a solid victory in Singapore (© Pat Butcher)

World champion Luke Kibet put a bad year behind him in winning the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on Sunday morning, taking close to a minute and a half off the course record, with 2:13:01. But for a fluctuating early pace, and a delay caused by an errant police bike, the Kenyan would have been well under 2:13.

After getting injured in the tribal riots at the start of the year, and seeing one of his mentors, Olympian Lukas Sang killed by demonstrators, Kibet had a poor year of competition. Only 12th in the London Marathon in April, he dropped out of the Olympic race in August. But this decisive victory, winning by over two minutes, reestablishes the 25-year-old from Eldoret as a marathon force. As he said immediately after the race, “I’m back now. A new course record in these conditions? I’m happy with that.”

Relaxed, Kibet maintains his cool in warm conditions

It was already 21C with high humidity at the 5.30am start, but though the temperature rose steadily, a fresh breeze under overcast skies on the lengthy stretch along the east coast provided mid-race relief.

A group of a dozen, mostly Kenyans began to break up at that point, and Kibet took the opportunity to push on alongside pacemaker, Johnstone Chepkwony. Although Chepkwony had already decided to finish the race, he said later that he knew he couldn’t challenge Kibet. And so it proved, the World champion made a mini-break at 28k, which the 24-year-old Chepkwony recovered. But when Kibet moved again at between 31 and 32k, the race was effectively over.

Keeping relaxed form throughout the final 10k, despite running the second half one minute faster, Kibet proved yet again that he’s the man for hot and humid conditions, as he increased his lead to two minutes, eleven seconds by the end. Chepkwony was delighted with his debut, finishing second in 2:15:12, and says he’ll start training properly for future marathons. Amos Matui put in another top finish in Singapore. He won the race in 2005/6, was a close second last year, when Elijah Mbogo set a course record of 2:14:23, and finished third today, in 2:15:15.

Winner Kibet said, “It’s never easy, but I felt comfortable. I tried not to push too hard in the early stages, but at 25k, I thought I’d put in an effort, and only the pacemaker came with me. It was only when I got to 41k that I knew I was going to win.”

Comfortable victory for ageless Masai in women's race

His compatriot, Edith Masai continues to defy the advancing years, as she won in similar fashion, at the age of 41. One of four who had already broken away by 10k, the three-time World Cross Country short course champion only had Russian, Silvia Skvortsova for company at halfway. But, as Masai said herself, “I was feeling OK, so at 30k, I left the Russian.”

Masai ran the second half close to two minutes faster than the first, finishing in 2:34:15, close to three minutes clear of Skvortsova, second in 2:37:10, with another Kenyan, Rose Chesire third in 2:42:39.

Masai contended that her runaway win was due to a two-month race series in the USA in summer, coupled with distance work back home. “Those races in the USA, 10k, 15k, half-marathon were good preparation for my speed. Then I did my endurance work in Kenya. And it paid off.”

The race was another triumph for the organisers, who put on by far the best event in this part of the world, or indeed any part. They know conditions will always militate against fast times in Singapore. But it’s proof of their talents for organisation, and the serious prize money, that 15,000 ran the marathon, with another 35,000 in the 10k and half-marathon.

As for the race winners, Kibet felt that his London preparation earlier this year was hindered by the tribal violence, saying, “I’ll talk to my manager now, but I’d like to go back to London next April, and prepare properly.” As for the ageless Masai, opponents young enough to be her daughter can’t relax yet. She says she has no immediate plans for another race, adding with a laugh, “As long as my body is still moving, I’ll run as long as I can.”

Pat Buthcher for the IAAF

Leading Results -

MEN -
 1. Luke KIBET, KEN            2:13:01     $35,000
 2. Johnstone CHEPKWONY, KEN   2:15:12      19,000
 3. Amos MATUI, KEN            2:15:15      10,000
 4. John STEVEN, TAN           2:17:39       6,000
 5. Victor MANGUSHO, KEN       2:17:57       4,500
 6. Sammy TUM, KEN             2:18:06       3,500
 7. Francis KIPROP, KEN        2:18:26       2,500
 8. Joel Kimaru KEIYO, KEN     2:18:31       2,000
 9. Evans KIPKOSGEI, KEN       2:19:17       1,500
10. Tariku JAFUR, ETH          2:19:28       1,300

WOMEN -
 1. Edith MASAI, KEN           2:34:15     $35,000
 2. Silvia SKVORTSOVA, RUS     2:37:10      16,000
 3. Rose CHESIRE, KEN          2:42:39       7,000
 4. Irene CHEROP, KEN          2:45:32       5,000
 5. Gebre ROMAN, ETH           2:46:11       3,500
 6. Madina BIKTAGIROVA, RUS    2:46:55       2,500

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