Athletics: Kenya’s Lagat upsets the odds at Mumbai Marathon

Manny Pacquiao (right) in action against Adrien Broner. [Reuters]

Kenya’s Cosmas Lagat and Worknesh Alemu of Ethiopia upset the formbook to produce outstanding performances in hot conditions to triumph at the Mumbai Marathon yesterday, winning at the IAAF Gold Label road race in 2:25:45 and 2:09:15 respectively.

Both marks were the second fastest winning times in the history of the event, the pair taking first prize cheques of USD $45,000 (Sh4.5 million). the men’s race naturally started steadily and a large pack of 14 runners – including three pacemakers – went through 10 kilometres in 30:53, 20 kilometres in 1:02:18 and the halfway point in 1:05:15.

However, Lagat made a decisive surge just before 29 kilometres and quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals, partially splitting up the leading pack. Lagat passed 30 kilometres in 1:32:34, assisted by two pacemakers whom he kept instructing to go faster, with a chasing pack of seven men 11 seconds behind.

The remaining pacemakers were to drop out at about 32 kilometres but Lagat bravely pressed on and kept on increasing the gap, to almost 40 seconds by 35 kilometres, although later he admitted that despite feeling strong, he spent much of the final 10 kilometres running scared.

“It was a good moment to make a break, but I also knew there were good runners behind me,” he said.

In fact, at 38 kilometres he had almost a minute’s lead before Ethiopia’s Aychew Bantie edged away from his compatriot Shumet Akalnew to clinch second. [IAAF]