Report08 Apr 2018


Negusse and Kiprop win in Hannover

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Seboka Negusse wins the Hannover Marathon (© PhotoRun.net)

Seboka Negusse of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Agnes Kiprop raced to their respective titles at the HAJ Hannover Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label road race, on Sunday (8).

Running in sunny conditions and rising temperatures, Negusse broke 2:10 for the second time in his career to win in 2:09:44. Michael Kunyuga of Kenya finished in a manner rarely seen among elite runners: he collapsed a few metres from the finish but kept going by crawling over the line in 2:10:16, barely holding off his compatriot Duncan Koech who clocked 2:10:19. Kunyaga’s determination was rewarded with a personal best as well as the runner-up spot.

An eight-strong group reached halfway in 1:04:12. The pacemakers had fulfilled their task to the letter, putting the field at this point on target to attack the course record of 2:08:32. At this time the favourite Gilbert Kirwa, whose 2:06:14 made him the fastest on the start list, was already a minute off the pace and dropped out soon after, having encountered problems earlier.

 

 
Michael Kunyuga crawls to his second place finish in Hannover

 

As temperatures rose the lead group slackened their pace and the prospect of attacking the course record slipped out of reach. Shortly after reaching 30 kilometres in 1:31:53, four runners broke away from the lead group with Koech leading from Kunyuga and Ethiopians Negusse and Mengistu Gezahagan. With 35 kilometres behind him, Negusse made what proved to be a decisive break.

“I’m so happy to have won my first marathon," he said. "The weather didn’t give me any problems."

The men’s elite field did not feature any German runners and home hopes were also dashed by Fate Tola in the women’s race. Last year’s women’s champion dropped out at 17 kilometres, suffering from a heavy cold and cough. Victory went to Kiprop in 2:32:35 with Akmaral Meirman of Kazakhstan finishing a distant second in 2:55:58.

 

 
Agnes Kiprop en route to her Hannover Marathon victory

 

The women’s elite field was seriously affected by withdrawals because of injury and visa problems in the days leading up to the race which included a group of Ethiopian runners who were unable to arrive in Hanover in time.

Including the various events held in conjunction with the marathon, a record 25,714 runners took part in this year’s HAJ Hannover Marathon festivites.

Organisers for the IAAF

Leading results:
Men -
1. Seboka Negussa, ETH, 2:09:44
2. Michael Kunyuga, KEN, 2:10:16
3. Duncan Koech, KEN, 2:10:19
4. Justus Kiprotich, KEN, 2:11:11
5. Henryk Szost, POL, 2:13:37
6. Mikhail Krassilov, KAZ, 2:24:24
 
Women -
1. Agnes Kiprop, KEN, 2:32:35
2. Akmaral Meirman, KAZ, 2:55:58
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