Kenyan road race runners were in a class of their own at the races held in Japan on Sunday, February 5, 2023.
The experienced runners registered podium-place finishes at both the Kagawa Murugame Half Marathon and Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.
At the former, Alexander Mutiso and Pauline Kamau won the men’s and women’s titles in fantastic fashions.
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Mutiso, a 2022 Gifu Half Marathon champion, clocked a championship record time of 59:16 to escape with the men’s title.
On the other hand, Kamulu reached the tape at 67:22 to win the women’s category.
However, it was not a walk in the park for their compatriots at the hotly contested Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.
Hassan Ibrahim proved too strong for his East African counterparts in the men’s category
The road race runner from Djibouti narrowly outpaced Kenya’s Daniel Kipchumba to the coveted title.
Ibrahim reached the tape at 2:06.44 ahead of Kipchumba who crossed the finishing line six seconds later.
Kipchumba has previously reigned supreme at the Italian -based Stresa Lago Maggiore Half Marathon and Copenhagen Half Marathon winner. He won both of the races in 2018.