FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It's An Ill Wind
The first words from all the finishers in the 27th SuisseGas Belgrade
Marathon - which culminated in Kenyan victories for Benard Kipkorir Talam
and Valary Jemeli Aiyabei - were "What a wind!" Kipkorir Talam broke away
from colleague, Paul Kimeli Samoei after the 32km mark and fought the
strong headwind to reach the finish line with a new personal best, 2.14.35.
"I managed to finish the first half of the course without any problems,"
said Kipkorir immediately after the victory, "but then the strong headwind
combined with an uphill stretch at the very finish and strong sun made it
very difficult for me. I am very happy that I won, especially as I was not
one of the favourites - the two Edwin's were - Kangogo and Kitum - but I
have also managed to set my new personal best".
Paul Kimeli Samoei was second with 2.15.49, while last year's winner Edwin
Kiplagat Kitum placed third with 2.21.51. Edwin Kangogo Kimaiyo, who had
announced his intention to break the course record, failed to finish the
race.
The women's race, similarly produced a surprise. Ethiopia's Ayano Yenealem
Buli was the pre-race favouritet, with her personal best 2.34.11. She vied
for the lead with Kenya's Valary Jemeli Aiyabei until the 26km mark, when
she began to suffer from the heat, and dropped back to eventually finish
third. Valary Jemeli Aiyabei won with 2.37.08, while second place went to
colleague, Hellen Jepkosgei Kimutai, with 2.42.24. Ayano's time for third
was 2.43.45. "I'm satisfied with the race, although it was very difficult,"
said Jemeli. "The wind was such a hindrance".
The Balkan Marathon Championships was held concurrently,and the winners
were Vitalie Gheorgita (Moldova) with 2.31.22 and Serbia's Ana Subotic with
2.44.03.?In the half marathon, which also served as the Serbian
Championships, Darko Zivanovic won the men's race in 1.08.59, while Olivera
Jevtic took the women's title in 1.19.20. She may not be in the same form
which earned here the course record here a half dozen years ago, but the
wind strength may be judged from the fact that Jevtic has run the course in
1.11.41. There were close to 25,000 competitors in the three events,
marathon, half-marathon, and 5k fun-run.
RESULTS
MARATHON
Men
1: Talam Benard Kipkorir KEN 2:14:35
2: Samoei Kimeli Paul KEN 2:15:49
3: Kitum Edwin Kiplagat KEN 2:21:51
Women
1: Aiyabei Valary Jemeli KEN 2:37:08
2: Kimutai Hellen Jepkosgei KEN 2:42:24
3: Buli Yenealem Ayano ETH 2:43:45
Balkan Championships
Men
1: Gheorgita Vitalie MDA 2:31:22
2: Agrali Javuz TUR 2:34:11
3: Lupulescu Daniel ROU 2:41:43
Women
1: Subotic Ana SRB 2:44:03
2: Mihaylova Mulka BUL 3:00:08
3: Danci liliana Maria ROU 3:04:58
HALF-MARATHON
Men
1: Zivanovic Darko SRB 1:08:59
2: Stosic Kristijan SRB 1:12:35
3: Ukic Goran SRB 1:13:19
Women
1: Jevtic Olivera SRB 1:19:20
2: Nevena Rajkovic SRB 1:27:14
3: Jovanovic Sofija SRB 1:34:38
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