Berlin, Germany, April 1 – Newcomer Denis Koech won the Berlin half-marathon on Sunday after holding off world champion and compatriot Wilson Kiprop in a sprint finish as the Kenyans dominated the men’s and women’s races.
Koech, who won the Ras al-Khaimah half marathon in the UAE in February, came home in a winning time and personal best of 59:14min to beat Kiprop by just a second with compatriot Ezekiel Chebii third at 59:22.
The women’s race was also decided on the line as Kenya’s Philes Ongori held off compatriot Helah Kiprop to come home in a winning time of 1hr 08:25min with Kiprop finishing a second behind.
Caroline Chepkwony finished third as she came home 11 seconds behind Ongori to complete the African nation’s domination of the event which saw 31,000 entrants pound the streets of the German capital.
