KISUMU, Kenya Dec 18 – Kapsabet-based Edna Jepkosgei defied the sweltering heat at the shores of Lake Victoria to successfully defend her Safaricom Kisumu Marathon title, cutting the tape in 2:40:44, four minutes lower than her time last year.
But the Sh300,000 reward wiped off her sweat, though she reckoned she would have done better under lower temperatures but nonetheless took the victory with open arms.
“It was a very competitive race because many winners turned up for the race. It was tough, because it was too hot and that slowed my pace. It was not this humid last year,” Jepkosgey said after the race, still heavily panting after digging deep into her energy reserves to push the final few kilometers of the race.
Trans Nzoia’s Elkana Yego won the men’s race in a time of 2:17:30 in his maiden attempt of the tough course.
Yego who has participated in the Ottawa Marathon in Canada savored his first ever victory saying; , “The sun was too hot that made the race tough, I am happy however to come out top,”
The Wheelchair Category was won by this year’s Standard Chartered Marathon winner, Sylvester Baraza who made his first stab in the 42-km race in Kisumu and clocked 2:25:15. Abraham Too from Nandi was second after stopping the clock at 2:25:41.
The tricycle second category was won by Nicholas Mungai who clocked 2:36:34, as Pascal Otieno clocked 2:41:50 for the third category.