Kimutai Kimwole clocks 2:11:01 course record in Monaco

Monte Carlo, MonacoKenyan Ben Kimutai Kimwole clocked a course record of 2:11:01 at the 12th Marathon de Monaco et des Riviera on Sunday (22).

Kimutai’s run eclipsed the previous record of 2:11:26 set by another Kenyan, Kenneth Cheruiyot, in 1999. Belaynesh Bekele of Ethiopia won the women’s race in 2:48:48. 800 runners from 49 countries took part in the race on a beautiful sunny day which will remain in memories long after running along the Mediterranean seaside.

The men’s contest was lead by pacesetter Benoit Zwierzchiewski of France, “Who did a fantastic job,” according to Mutai. “He was able to keep the pace until the 20thkm and containing the various changes of rhythm.”

As the midway point was reached in 1:06 as requested, the leading group was made up of second pacesetter Luca Kanda of Kenya, Kimutai, and Ethiopian Folisho Tum Tuko. The Ethiopian fell off the pace in the 25th kilometre when the  Kenyan took the lead alone.

“He was feeling very good and he was almost flying in the last uphill of Roquebrune Cap Martin at 32thkm,” his manager said. He was able to maintain the pace over the second half to reach his personal best and course record, and awarded for his run by a lively round of applause and encouragement when he enterd the Stade Louis II.

Well behind him, Tum Tuko (5th in 2:25:35)  struggled, losing 14 minutes over the second half of the contest, and was passed by Kenyan Jackson Rono who finished second in 2:17:50, and Russian Andrei Bryzgalov, who reached the line in 2:18:03 to finish third for his third podium finish in Monaco. Christopher Rutto, another Kenyan, was fourth (2:22:45).

In the women’s race Kenyan Florence Chepkirui led from the start until she arrived on the track and the Stade Louis II, only to withdraw exhausted.  That left the title for Bekele who won in 2:48:48 ahead of a Russian trio made of Ekaterina Fateeve (2:51:29, defending champion Elena Kozhevnikova (2:52:11) and Jeanna Malkova (2:56:18) who was third a year ago.

This was the second time that the Monégasque Athletics Federation organised its Marathon in spring in the spring. 800 participants gathered for the 9 am start on the Boulevard Albert Ier, which is the same venue where the F1 cars gather for the start of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix.

Since its first edition in 1997, the Marathon de Monaco et des Riviéra has the particularity – which makes it unique – to run through three countries. Between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, the course winds through the Principality of Monaco, France and Italy. Leaving the Principality on a beautiful course along the seaside, this course reaches the French towns of Roquebrune-Cap Martin and Menton then moves on to Vintimiglia, Italy, before returning to Monaco and finishing with one lap of the track of the Stade Louis-II.

The award ceremony for the podium for men and women was conducted in the stadium of HSH Prince Albert II, President of the Monégasque Athletics Federation, with representative and officials from the various city (Roquebrune, Menton, Vintimille, and Monaco), as well as local officials.

Stephane Merlino for the IAAF