Kenyan athletes have confirmed once again the level of their pre-eminence in distance running, with their men and women filling he first 22 finishing spots of the Singapore Marathon staged on Sunday.
Joshua Kipkorir won the race in 2 hr 12 min 20 sec, the second-fastest time in the event's 36-year history. He finished the race almost 30 minutes quicker than the fastest non-Kenyan, Son Rui Long of Singapore.
Felix Kirwa (2:13:43) was second, with Andrew Kimtai (2:14:30) third. Cosmas Muteti (2:15:42), Felix Kiprotich (2:16:06), Gilbert Yegon (2:16:28), Collins Kibet (2:16:38), Dominic Ruto (2:16:49), Paul Matheka (2:19:35) and Benson Kimutai (2:22:24) rounded out the top 10.
A total of 22 Kenyan men took part in the marathon.
Kenyans also dominated the women's event, with Priscah Cherono winning in 2:32:12, the 14th-fastest time on the day, from fellow countrywomen Stella Barsosio (2:33:23) and Jane Jelagat (2:35:38). Fifteen Kenyan women contested the race, and Agnes Kiprop (2:39:12) and Naomi Maiyo (2:39:58) finished fourth and fifth.
"I like the course, it's very nice," first-time Singapore runner Kipkorir, 24, said after upsetting the top names in the field, including Paul Lonyangata, the winner of the past two Paris marathons, who failed to finish.
Cherono, 38, said: "I was worried about the weather yesterday because it was not so good [it rained overnight on Saturday] but today, the conditions were good."