Kenya’s Paul Lonyangata defended his title at the 42nd edition of the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon that was held on Sunday (8) in Paris, France.
Three Kenyan pacemakers, Joseph Kiptum, Ben Kiptai and Edwin Koech– took turns to sustain a regular rhythm. The group of 20 passed the 15km checkpoint in 44:55 and forging on, the trio carried maintained the pace to hit the 20-km mark in 59:48. Nineteen athletes composed the leading group at halfway, passed in 1:03:00. Only Tariku Bekele began to struggle with the pace.
The leaders hit 25 kilometres in 1:14.55 before the three pacemakers had drifted back, leaving 15 men going through the 30 kilometres in 1:30.17.
Mathew Kisorio also from Kenya took charge of the team at 31km mark but the Ernest Ngeno, Lonyangata and Ethiopian Yitayal Atnafu held on to his pace.
Lonyangata decided to pull away from the three at the 40km and never looked back to lead a Kenyan podium finish cutting the tape in 2:06.25 which was 15 seconds outside his personal best he set last year at the same race.
He was closely followed by Mathew Kisorio 11 seconds later with Ngeno crossing the line in third in 2:06.41.
Ethiopia’s Atnafu crossed the line in fourth and Eliud Kiptanui coming in fifth in 2:07.00 and 2:08.20 respectively.
LEADING RESULTS
MEN
- Paul Lonyangata (KEN) 2:06.25
- Mathew Kisorio (KEN) 2:06.36
- Ernest Ngeno (KEN) 2:06.41
- Yitayal Atnafu (KEN) 2:07.00
- Eliud Kiptanui (KEN) 2:08.20
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