Fikre Bekele Tefera smashes the Rome Marathon course record

Ethiopia’s Fekre Bekele Tefera smashed the race course record at the 27th edition of the Rome Marathon that was held on Sunday (27) in Rome, Italy.

Terfera led a 1-2 Ethiopian podium finish as he erased the previous course record of 2:07.17 that was set in 2009 by Benjamin Kiptoo from Kenya.

Tefera cut the tape in new course record of 2:06.48.

He was followed by his compatriot who crossed in second with a personal best of 2:07.04 with Moroccan long-distance runner who was banned for two years as a result of irregularities in his biological passport and who was also the fastest runner on paper closing the first three podium finishes in a time of 2:07.31.

The first Kenyan to cross the finish line was Cheshari Kirui Jacob who pulled a time of 2:09.09 in position five with his compatriot Joshua Kipkemboi Kogo coming home in fifth place in 2:09.41.

LEADING RESULTS

42KM MEN

1. Fekre Bekele Tefera                (ETH) 2:06.48
2. Tadese Mamo Temechachu   (ETH) 2:07.04
3. Othamane El Goumri             (MOR)2:07.15
4. Abraha Girma Bekele             (ETH) 2:08.31
5. Cheshari Kirui Jacob              (KEN) 2:08.39
6. Joshua Kipkemboi Kogo        (KEN) 2:09.09