Three-time Toronto Marathon champion Philemon Rono ran away with the course record at the 100thh edition of the Kosice Peace Marathon held on Sunday (01) in Košice, Slovakia.
The 32 year-old who came to this race with fastest time on paper of 2:05.00 that he got in 2019 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where he took the honors, beat the race favorite and defending champion Reuben Kiprop Kerio, who also has won this race three times (2017, 2021 and 2022).
Rono, popularly called the Baby Police due to his height and body size, engage a high speed gear in the final stages of the race, leaving Ethiopia’s Kebede Tulu Wami gasping for air as he cut the tape first and erased the old course record of 2:07.01 that was set twelve years ago by his compatriot Lawrence Kimaiyo with a new course record time of 2:06.55.
“I’m glad that I managed to create a record. It’s a great success, I appreciate it a lot. The last kilometer was tactical, I pushed for it. Before I was holding back, but at the end I was just sprinting,” said Rono.
Wami who came to this race with the second fastest time on paper of 2:05.19, had fought so hard, was left with no option but to settle in second under the old course time of 2:06.56.
Ethiopia’s Berhane Tesfay Berhe closed the podium three finishes in 2:07.07 with the defending champion finishing a distant fourth in 2:07.56.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Philemon Rono Cherop (KEN) 2:06.55
- Kebede Tulu Wami (ETH) 2:06.56
- Berhane Tesfay Berhe (ETH) 2:07.07
- Reuben Kiprop Kerio (KEN) 2:07.56
- Masresha Bere Bisetegn (ETH) 2:09.04
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