Mumbai Marathon: Kenya's Evans Ruto, Ethiopia’s Dinknesh Mekash sweep titles; Lalita Babbar breaks course record

Kenya’s Evans Ruto crosses the finish line in 2.09.33 seconds to win the overall men’s title at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, 2014 on Sunday.

Mumbai, January 19: Evans Ruto led a clean Kenyan sweep in the men’s event of the US$ 360,000 prize money Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon on Sunday. The 30-year-old Ruto produced a late surge to break away from compatriots Lawerence Kimaiyo and Philemon Baaru to finish in first place in 2:09:33, just a second slower than the course record of 2:09:32 set by Uganda’s Jackson Kiprop last year. Kimaiyo claimed second place in 2:09:45 and Baaru was 13 seconds behind in third place. Ruto won US$ 41,000 for his efforts, but missed out on the course record bonus of US$ 15,000. Kimaiyo had to be content with US$ 21,000, while Baaru was richer by US$ 15,000.

“The race was good overall, but I am disappointed to miss the record by one second. I felt welcomed in Mumbai and enjoyed the race. Next time I will try for 2.07 or 2.08,” Ruto mentioned.

In the women’s event, last year’s runner-up, Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash, went a step better by clinching first place in 2:28:08, well ahead of second placed Gladys Kipsoi of Kenya and fellow countrywomen Bizunesh Urgesa. The Kenyan, making her debut, finished with a time of 2:29:53, followed by Urgesa in 2:.30:00. Mekash went home richer by US$ 41,000, while Kipsoi received US$ 21,000 and Urgesa got US$ 15,000.

Ethiopia’s Dinknesh Mekash crosses the finish line in 2.28.08 seconds to win the overall women’s title at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, 2014 on Sunday.

“Last year it was my first time in Mumbai and this time I was confident of winning. I trained very well in Addis Ababa and happy to win this year,” said Mekash.

Karan Singh maintained the dominance of the Army Sports Institute athletes as he won the Indian men’s full marathon in a time of 2:24:08. Rashpal Singh of Sikh Regiment, Jabalpur Centre came in second with a timing of 2:24:38, followed by last year’s winner, Binning Lynghkoi (2: 24:40) also from Army Sports Institute.

“I am happy to win this marathon. I want to thank the Army Sports Institute for the support I get. They have good facilities, like some good coaches, both foreign and Indian, physiotherapists, conditioners and the other talented athletes,” Karan Singh mentioned.

Lalita Babbar of Central Railway created history completing a hat-trick of triumphs by winning the Indian women’s full marathon in a new record time of 2:50:31, which was a full three minutes better than her time of 2:53:42 she clocked in winning last year. Following the Maharashtra runner were Vijaymala Patil (2:59:58) and Jyoti Gawate (3:02:59) of Prabhani, Maharashtra.

Indian Full Marathon winner Lalita Babbar at Finish Line

Babbar felt good after the race. “It’s great to set a new course record. I had trained well so I was confident and sure of completing the race in a time of around 2:50,” she stated.

However, Babbar is not certain of returning to defend her title for the fourth consecutive time next year. “I’m basically not a marathon runner. But three years back I gave it a try and came first and that is what motivated me to continue running the marathon. I have only participated in the Mumbai Marathon. But next year I will decide only after the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea,” said the Central Railway employee.

The men’s race, aiming for a timing of 2:08, was well within the target in the first half, thanks to the pacers doing their job to perfection. The strong wind on the sea link and the steep Peddar Road Hill on the return leg took its toll as the pace flagged a bit. Ruto, who was in the lead bunch along with his fellow Kenyans, picked up the pace after 35 kms and the race was once again within record time at the 39km mark. Ruto once again changed gears to widen the gap between the other two Kenyans and held on to win.

The women’s race was aiming for 2:25 time and there was a group of around 9 women till the 22km mark, among them all the favourites, running strongly with the two pace makers. The strong wind on the sea link also proved tough for them. At the 26 km mark there were four women in the lead, among them Dinknesh, who was always in control of the race. From 28 km Dinknesh broke clean and ran alone to finish strongly.

The men’s half marathon was won by Indrajeet Patel of ONGC with a time of 1:04:56. Coming in second was Soji Mathew of Railways (1:05.45) and Man Singh (1:05:45) in third place. Central Railway’s Sudha Singh claimed the first position in the women’s event in 1:18:24, while in second place was Kavita Raut of ONGC (1:21:15) and third was Kiran Sahdev (1:21:57).

Following are the results: (Finals)

(Overall Results Men): Evans Ruto (KEN) 02.09.33; Lawrence Kimaiyo (KEN) 02.09.45; Philemon Baaru (KEN) 02.09.58; Stephen Chebogut (KEN) 02.10.56; Ishhimael Bushendich (KEN)02.11.18; Juilius Chepk Wony (KEN) 02.11.37; Evans Cheruiyot (KEN) 02.12.08; Hailu Mekonnen (ETH) 02.12.17; Wosen Zeleke (ETH) 02.12.54; Kenneth Mungara (KEN) 02.14.13.

(Overall Results Women): Dinknesh Mekash (ETH) 02.28.08; Gladys Kipsoi (KEN) 02.29.53; Bizunesh Urgesa (ETH) 02.30.00; Etalemahu Kidane (ETH) 02.31.53; Asnakech Mengistu (ETH) 02.32.42; Aberu Mekuria (ETH) 02.33.21; Ehite Bizuayehu (ETH) 02.33.48; Tsega Gelaw (ETH) 02.34.35; Alem Kifle (ETH) 02.35.13; Eunice Kales (KEN) 02.36.02.

Indian Overall Results Men: Karan Singh (IND) 02.24.08 (Overall 16^th); Rashpal Singh (IND) 02.24.38 (Overall 17^th); Binning Lyngkhoi (IND) 02.24.40 (Overall 18^th); Elam Singh (IND) 02.24.56 (Overall 19^th); Sanvaroo Yadav (IND) 02.26.00 (Overall 20^th); Amritpal Singh (IND) 02.30.00; Krishan Singh (IND) 02.30.22; Dasari Obilesu (IND) 02.30.30; Javid Iqbal (IND) 02.31.21; Sanaton O Singh (IND) 02.32.52.

Indian Overall Results Women: Lalita Babbar (IND) 02.50.31 (Overall 12^th); Vijaymala Patil (IND) 02.59.58 (Overall 13^th); Jyoti Gawate (IND) 03.02.59 (Overall 14^th); Sudha M (IND)03.08.17 (Overall 15^th); Rohini Raut (IND) 03.11.32 (Overall 16^th); Monika Raut (IND) 03.15.46 (Overall 17^th); Ranjana Kumari (IND) 03.16.56 (Overall 18^th); Rashmi Gurnule (IND) 03.17.37 (Overall 19^th); Supriya Patil (IND) 03.30.47 (Overall 20^th); Shyamli Singh (IND) 03.30.51.

Half Marathon Men: Indrajeet Patel (IND) 01.04.56; Soji Mathew (IND) 01.05.45; Mansingh (IND) 01.06.17; Baliappa A B (IND) 01.06.23; Deepak Kumbhar (IND) 01.06.38.

Half Marathon Women: Sudha Singh (IND) 01.18.24; Kavita Raut (IND) 01.21.15; Kiran Sahdev (IND) 01.21.57; Aarthi Venkatesan (IND) 01.22.53; Heena Mali (IND) 01.24.08.

Amateur Men (Open): Jegadheesan M (IND) 02.42.13; Tanaji Nalavade (IND) 02.50.54; Arun Kumar Sahni (IND) 02.53.08; Hirotaka Ishihara (IND) 02.54.48; Atsushi Morishita (IND) 02.56.17.

Amateur Women (Open): Liz Henderson (IND) 03.31.37; Timtim Sharma (IND) 03.33.29; Neera Katwal (IND) 03.34.59; Roopali Mehta (IND) 03.36.26; Stella Moss (IND) 03.36.50.

Police Cup (Men): Team ‘A’ (Umesh Gavhane, Dhondiram Kumbhar, Appa Kumbhare, Ganesh Thorat) 02.38.53; Team ‘B’ (Omkar Jadhav, Kiran Talekar, Sidharam Dongaraje, Nitin Rathod) 02.42.37.

Police Cup (Women): Team ‘O’ (Priya Naiek, Teja Naik, Namrata Tare, Priyanka Navkudkar) 03.07.21.

Marathon Super Veteran (Men): Otto Goetsch (IND) 03.54.26; Wayne Senner (IND) 04.01.06.; Venugopalan Arunachalam (IND)

04.04.59; Virendra Singh Rawat (IND) 04.08.14; Adam Piatek (IND) 04.09.41.

Marathon Super Veteran (Women): Mala Honnatti (IND) 04.38.51.

Marathon Senior Veteran (Men): Sabhajeet Yadav (IND) 03.25.39; Kothandatani K C (IND) 03.35.54; Dennis Odonnell (IND) 03.36.07.

Marathon Senior Veteran (Women): Pervin Batliwala (IND) 04.38.40; Bharathi Govindan (IND) 04.56.36; Hema Patel (IND) 05.01.02.

Marathon Veteran (Men): Ashok Nath (IND) 03.10.19; Suresh Chand (IND) 03.11.30; Thomas Philip (IND) 03.19.48.

Marathon Veteran (Women):Vaishali Kasture (IND) 03.46.41; Heidi Griffiths (IND) 03.57.50; Vandana Parekh (IND) 04.00.51.

Kingfisher Mast Mumbaikar: 1^st Prize-Manas Kumar Mahapatra (Crime Against Women); 2^ndPrize-Ashish Gupta (Celebrating 100 yrs of Indian Cinema); 3^rd Prize-Apurva Sampat (Fight Against Rape).

Kingfisher Bindaas Bandhe (Best Costume Theme for Groups): 1^st Prize Shraddha Charitable Trust (Lungi Dance); 2^nd Prize: Deepshikha (Cancer).