Kenya’s Pius Karanja slashed six minutes from his previous personal best as he took the top honors at the 37th edition of the Eindhoven Marathon held on Sunday (09) in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
The 30 year-old who came to this race with a personal best of 2:12.53 that he got at the 2018 Gyeongju Marathon where he finished in sixth place, led a 1-2-3 Kenyan podium finish as he led the lead group through the half way mark in 1:03.06 but Ethiopian Deribe Robi and Mark Kiptoo who was the oldest on the start list pulled away from the group at the 30k mark.
The two were caught up at the 33k mark and were passed as they could not keep up with the pace of Karanja, Joshua Kemboi, Felix Kerich and Gevin Kerich.
Kerich and Karanja engaged their gear at the 40km mark leaving Kemboi fighting for air as the two battled on the final straight, but Karanja got an upper hand as he surged past Kerich who could not handle his powerful final kick as he cut the tape in a new personal best of 2:06.55.
Kerich who was making his making his debut over the distance, was forced to settle in second place in a new personal best of 2:07.07 with Kemboi closing the podium three finishes also in a personal best of 2:08.09.
Kirwa and Eritrea’s Okubay Gebretnsae came home in fourth and fifth place in a time of 2:08.48 and 2:09.15 respectively.
The race course record of 2:05.46 that was set ten years ago by Dickson Chumba from Kenya remains standing.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Pius Karanja (KEN) 2:06.55
- Gevin Kerich (KEN) 2:07.07
- Joshua Kemboi (KEN) 2:08.09
- Felix Kirwa (KEN) 2:08.48
- Okubay Gebretnsae (ERI) 2:09.15
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