Tuiyange, Muthoni take Nairobi Marathon victories

Samson Kikwei Tuiyange and Emma Muthoni were the new winners of the 2008 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, billed as the biggest single mass participation event in East Africa, on a cool cloudy morning today in the Kenyan capital.

Tuiyange set a new course record of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 30 seconds after a solo but determined effort to run away from the pack at the 40km mark to lead over 15,000 runners with the elites corps forming an upcoming brigade of Kenyan runners.

Tuiyange, 34, becomes the oldest winner of the six-year-old annual derby and though this victory is coming late in life it has rekindled his hopes of making a breakthrough in the world circuit.

This was Tuiyange's second major local race having finished eighth at a half marathon in Eldoret last month.

"I was not sure of winning as the leading pack remained the same for 30k but I felt good and decided to attack with 2km to go," said Tuiyange who earned US$ 20,000 for his efforts on this new flat course.

After the 40km mark, he was able to shrug off Gitia Baaru who had led him most of the way and romp first into the Nyayo National Stadium. Baaru clocked 2:11:01.

Cosmas Musyoka led the pack from the 10km point with Baaru and Tuiyange behind him in that order. He built his lead to 30 seconds by the 20k distance which was however slashed to a mere three at the 30k mark by Baaru and Tuiyange.

But the next 10k were the defining moment of the race after he was overtaken by the duo who built a seven seconds lead and gradually dropped to a distance third to post 2:13:10.

Gitia who was taking part in the full distance led the pack at the 20k mark was first in the Nairobi Half Marathon two years ago and first in the local Ndakaini last year.

In the women's race, Muthoni lead from the start.

Muthoni, 27, has finished fourth in her last three big races including the Singapore round of the Standard Chartered Marathon series, finally climbed on the victor's podium with a time of 2:33:42.

Muthoni fought through the leading pack to avoid being shoved and spiked 5km into the race and never looked back as she continued to post all the best split times until the end of the race.

Second placed Jepkosgei Sawe managed to pull of an exhilarating finish after consistently trailing third placed Irene Jerotich until the 41km mark when she managed to charge through to post 2:36:59. Jerotich clocked 2:37:08. [NOTE: Sawe was later disqualified for taking a short cut along the marathon route.]

Kirui Chesang won the Half Marathon in 1:02:23 as Catherine Tuwei was victorious in the women's category in 1:11:07.

Peter Njenga for the IAAF

Leading Results -

Marathon:
MEN -
 1. Kikwei, Tuiyange, Kenya, 2:10:30
 2. Gitia Baaru, Kenya, 2:11:01
 3. Cosmas Musyoka, Kenya, 2:13:10
 4. *    2:13:33
 5. Ernest Kiptum, Kenya, 2:14:16
 6. Elias Kimeli, Kenya, 2:14:40
 7. Jonathan Kimutai, Kenya, 2:14:42
 8. Charles Maina, Kenya, 2:14:45
 9. Kipkorir, Chepyegoni, Kenya, 2:14:54
10. *    2:14:56

WOMEN -
 1. Emma Muthoni, Kenyan, 2:33.42
 2. Irene Jerotich, Kenya, 2:37.08
 3. Jepkosgei Chesire, Kenya, 2:40.07
 4. Emily Chepkorir, Kenya, 2:40.14
 5. Chepkemoi, Samoei, Kenya, 2:42:16
 6. Viola Bor, Kenya, 2:43.01
 7. Eunice Korir, Kenya, 2:43.16
 8. Triyaningsih, Indonesia, 2:43.35
 9. *  2:43.36

Half Marathon -
MEN -
 1. Kurui Chesang, Kenya, 1:02:23
 2. Sitienei Kiplagat, Kenya, 1:02:34
 3. Gilbert Yegon, Kenya, 1:02:43

WOMEN -
 1. Catherine Tuwei, Kenya, 1:11:07
 2. Elizabeth Rumakol, 1:12:56
 3. Florence Jepkosgei, Kenya, 1:13:29

* runners not identified in official results