Despite windy conditions on the hilly seaside course Kenyan Eliud Kiplagat Bargnetuny celebrated the New Taipei City Wanjinshi Marathon's first edition as an IAAF bronze label by taking more than 4 minutes off the year-old course record to win in 2:13:14, with countrywoman Gladys Kipsoi winning a leisurely women's race just under 2:40.
After a slow start over the uphill first 5 km, Kenyans Josphat Chobei and Hosea Kosgei took off on low-2:14 pace, breaking up the large lead pack in the process. Barngetuny and the race's other Kenyan entrant Samuel Kayla caught up by halfway to make it a four-man lead group in 1:06:00. The group stayed together to fight headwinds over the second half before Barngetuny broke free on the downhills near the end of the race to take the win. Chobei was next in 2:15:51, also more than a minute under the old course record. Kalya was the only other athlete to break 2:20, taking 3rd in 2:18:30 as Kosgei faded to 6th in 2:23:08. Starting conservatively and working his way up through the field during the first half, Japan's Etsu Miyata was caught alone in the wind in the second half and stalled at 8th in a disappointing 2:26:35.
The women's race likewise played out with a lead quartet made up of Kipsoi, the formerly Japan-based Kenyan Ruth Wanjiru, and Ethiopians Almaz Negede Fekade and Tigist Teshome Ayanu going out a conservative pace, hitting halfway in 1:19:54 before Kipsoi broke free after 30 km for the win. Ayanu was 2 minutes behind in 2nd, Wanjiru filling the podium another minute back.
New Taipei City Wanjinshi Marathon
New Taipei City, Taiwan, 3/22/15
click here for complete results
Men
1. Eliud Kiplagat Barngetuny (Kenya) - 2:13:14 - CR
2. Josphat Kiptanui Too Chobei (Kenya) - 2:15:51 (CR)
3. Samuel Kalya (Kenya) - 2:18:30
4. Andre Sambu Sipe (Tanzania) - 2:21:45
5. Dadi Tesfaye Beyene (Ethiopia) - 2:22:37
6. Hosea Kosgei (Kenya) - 2:23:08
7. Eshetu Wendimu Tsige (Ethiopia) - 2:23:40
8. Etsu Miyata (Japan) - 2:26:35
9. Ahmed Nasef (Italy) - 2:27:54
10. Debesay Tsige (Eritrea) - 2:28:06
Women
1. Gladys Kipsoi (Kenya) - 2:39:32
2. Tigist Teshome Ayanu (Ethiopia) - 2:41:31
3. Ruth Wanjiru Kuria (Kenya) - 2:42:18
4. Rose Chekurui Kosgei (Kenya) - 2:48:09
5. Almaz Negede Fekade (Ethiopia) - 2:51:22
6. Eliana Patelli (Italy) - 2:52:36
7. Lucia Mwihaki Kimani (Bosnia & Herzegovina) - 2:58:07
8. Chen Ya Fan (Taiwan) - 3:08:32
9. Lin Yu Hsin (Taiwan) - 3:09:34
10. Aregu Lechisa Awaki (Ethiopia) - 3:09:47
(c) 2015 Brett Larner
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