Barnaba Kipkoech wins Malaga Marathon

Kenya’s Barnaba Kipkoech took the top honors at the Malaga marathon held on Sunday (11) in Malaga, Spain.

The 29 year-old who came to this race with a life time best of 2:09.12 that he got at last year’s Paris Marathon where he finished in fourteenth place, battled for honors with Abdi Asefa Kebede from Ethiopia who came with the second fastest time on paper of 2:06.43 that he got at last year’s Xiamen Marathon.

Kipkoech gave a powerful kick towards the end of the race to emerge first when he cut the tape in a new personal best of 2:08.21 with the latter coming home in second thirty one seconds later.

Kenya’s Mathew Kibiwott Sang closed the podium three finishes in a time of 2:09.20

The 2012 African 5000m Silver medallist, Jonathan Mayo, who was also the fastest athlete on paper with a time of 2:04.56 and Ethiopia’s Kibrom Weldemicael came home in fourth and fifth place with a time of 2:09.47 and 2:09.48 respectively.

LEADING RESULTS

42KM MEN

1. Barnaba Kipkoech      (KEN)   2:08.21
2. Abdi Asefa Kebede     (ETH)   2:08.52
3. Mathew  Sang              (KEN)  2:09.20
4. Jonathan Mayo            (KEN)   2:09:47
5. Kibrom Weldemicael   (ETA)   2:09.48