FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maiyo Wins Windy Belgrade Marathon
Johnstone Maiyo won Sunday's Belgrade Time Force Marathon, as he had
predicted two days earlier, leading a sweep of his Kenyan colleagues. But
the 22 year old had to battle a headwind for much of the way, restricting
his winning time to 2.16.23. But that was good enough for a decisive
victory over colleagues Sammy Kibet, second in 2.18.15, and Paul Lopio,
another four seconds back.
Unusually for a Kenyan, even one of the younger generation, Maiyo
confidently predicted victory at Friday's press conference, and said today
that even the company of half a dozen colleagues with 10k to go did not
dissuade him.
"It was very windy today, that why I didn't want to take the lead too soon,
but when we got to 35k, I knew I had to go. I left the others behind about
one kilometre later".
In only his second marathon, and his first in Europe, Maiyo built up almost
a minute's margin of victory in the final six kilometres back into the city
centre. By which time, the temperature, which had been around 12C at the
10am start had risen towarsd 20C.
Maiyo comes from Kitale in the Western Highlands, a land as fertile for
distance runners as it is for crops and cattle. Eschewing the family
tradition of farming, Maiyo took up running seriously five years ago,
graduating to marathons earlier this year with a run in the Kilimanjaro
marathon, returning a similar time at over 2000 metres altitude.
His sights are set a little higher now. "We will try and get him in the New
York Marathon in November," said his manager.
Another Kenyan Hellen Mugo had an even easier victory in the women's race,
clocking 2.41.19, well ahead of Volha Rezkaya of Belarus, second in
2.53.57, and Neza Mravje of Slovenia, third in 2.59.30.
MEN
Place/bib no Name Country Time
1 11 Johnstone MAIYO KEN 2.16.23
2 6 Sammy KIBET KEN 2.18.15
3 9 Paul LOPIO KEN 2.18.19
4 3 Sammy ROTICH KEN 2.19.29
5 5 Victor KIMELI KEN 2.20.25
6 12 Paul KIPTANUI KEN 2.23.20
WOMEN
1 401 Hellen MUGO KEN 2.41.19
2 425 Volha REZKAYA BLS 2.53.57
3 424 Neza MRAVJE SLO 2.59.30
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