Kenyans dominate road marathon

source from THE STAR

Kenyan long-distance runners dominated the 2007 Adidas NPE King of the Road Marathon yesterday, which started and ended at the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall in Bandar Sunway here.

Their male and female runners grabbed the top three positions of the newly-introduced 21km Open category.

In the previous year, the events were for the 10km, 7km and 5km categories only.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu flagged off about 8,000 participants at the elevated New Pantai Expressway (NPE) in front of the mall.

In the men's open category, Geoffery Kipitoh, 21, clocked 1'00:03 and beat his compatriot Phillip Kipfoo, who came to the finishing line 12 seconds later while Felix Marube finished third in 1'00:56.

“I'm happy to win my first race in Malaysia. Previously, I participated in four competitions in Malaysia. I was the runner-up in the Ipoh Marathon, fourth in the Penang Bridge Run and fifth at the Seimens Run,” said Kipitoh, who became a long-distance runner at the age of 18.

Kipitoh received RM3,000 for his effort with Kipfoo and Marube receiving RM2,500 and RM2,000 respectively.

In the women's Open category, Frida Chepkite Ladepa won the race in 1'12:56.

Ladepa walked away with RM3,000 for her victory while compatriot Kigen Carolline, who clocked 1'17:07 and Rael Jeptoomaren (1'19:36) collected RM2,500 and RM2,000 respectively