Kiprono, Kigen in double win for Kenya

Boaz Kiprono and Joan Kigen struck a rare double for Kenya at the 2015 Bournemouth Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Sunday.

Despite the windy conditions on England’s south coast, Boaz Kiprono clipped 41 seconds off the previous course record to win in 2:16:00.

Kiprono trailed compatriot Declerk Omari at the halfway point by 20 seconds, but on the seafront section between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers, the race turned around and Kiprono took over at the front.

By the time the leading runners reached 18 miles, Kiprono had a lead of 1:20 and Omari dropped out soon afterwards to leave another Kenyan, Japhet Keoch, in second place, almost three minutes adrift of his compatriot.

In turn, Koech was caught by Latvia’s Valerijs Zolnerovics at the 20-mile mark. Kiprono faded in the closing miles, but he still had enough in hand to see off Zolnerovics, who was 1:49 adrift at the finish and crossed the line in 2:17:49, while Koech completed the top three in 2:21:19.

“The wind was hard, it was difficult. This is the first time I have ran this marathon. I am very happy that I won,” said Kiprono, who was a slightly surprising winner.

Purity Kimetto finished second after Stetsenko’s departure, but ended the race in some difficulty after being overtaken by British runner Sophie Carter with two kilometres to go.

Kigen won in 2:36:47, well clear of Carter, who clocked 2:56:43. Kimetto hung on to finish third in 3:00:53.
“It was windy - more than last year. The course was not bad,” said Kigen.