Cherop, Yego triumph in Eldoret City Marathon

Sharon Chemutai Cherop crosses the finish line to win the inaugural Eldoret City Marathon women’s race on April 22, 2018 in Eldoret. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

What you need to know:

  • The winners pocketed Sh3 million each while the runners up each walked away with Sh1.5 million.
  • The third placed finishers were each awarded Sh1 million in the marathon, easily the most expensive in Kenya.

Two-thousand-and-twelve Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop and Elkana Yego are the winners of the inaugural Eldoret City Marathon.

Paced by her husband Mathew Kosgei, Cherop ran a tactical women’s race clocking 2:29:57 ahead Lydia Cheromei who finished second in 2:33:25 while Jane Jelagat Seurei third in 2:33:46 on Sunday.

Newcomer Elkana Yego, who used to run 1,500m before switching to road running, emerged first in the men’s category in 2:12:44 ahead of Phillip Kangogo who ran in 2:12:49 for second place as Brian Kipsang sealed the podium third in 2:12:50.

The winners pocketed Sh3 million each while the runners up each walked away with Sh1.5 million.

The third placed finishers were each awarded Sh1 million in the marathon, easily the most expensive in Kenya.

Cherop mixed it up with the leading pack that included Lydia Cheromei, Jane Seurei and Eunice Chumba before breaking away at the 30km mark never to be caught.

“I’m very happy to have won today. It was a tough race but I enjoyed competing at home because most of the people know me and you could hear them shouting my name which gave me morale,” said Cherop

The athlete who has been training in Uasin Gishu County said she choose to run in the Eldoret City Marathon as an afterthought after participation in the Rome Marathon just two weeks.

“Two weeks ago I was in Rome Marathon where I emerged fourth and coming here I was just running as part of my long-run training but I was surprised I had the energy to win the race,” said Cherop.

This was her first victory after coming back from maternity leave and she has now set her sights on one of the Major marathons in September or October.

Cheromei who is a former World Cross Country junior champion, said she cancelled competing in a half marathon race in China and decided to run in Eldoret.

“I had not trained specifically for a full marathon race but I decided to run, and here I am in number two,” she said.

Men’s winner Yego said he had prepared well and his goal was to win so as to attract a manager.

“I don’t have a manager and winning today I know I will get me one going forward and my dream is to one day run in the Majors,” said the athlete who boasts of training with the likes of former world champion in 3,000m steeplechase Ezekiel Kemboi.

SELECTED RESULTS

MEN 42KM

1. Elkana Yego 2:12:44

2. Phillip Kangogo 2:12:49

3. Brian Kipsang 2:12:50

4. Ezekiel Korir 2:13:20

5. David Tarus 22:13:50

WOMEN 42KM

1. Sharon Cherop 2:29:57

2. Lydia Cheromei 2:33:25

3. Jane Seurei 2:33:46

4. Maureen Chepkemoi 2:34:13

5. Jackline Chepngeno 2:35:08