Kenyans dominate KL Marathon

Sunday, 27 June 2010 16:22

KUALA LUMPUR – Kenyan long-distance runner Nelson Kirwa Rotich won the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 today, clocking a new record of two hours 16 minutes and 44 seconds in a wet race around the national capital.

The previous record was 2'17:2s held by Julius Kilimo Kipkorir, also from Kenya.

Rotich's countrymen Lilan Kennedy Kiproo and Luka Kipkemboi Chelimo finished second and third respectively, with a time of 2'16:55s and 2'16:56s in the race which started and ended at Dataran Merdeka.

Rotich, who was last year's runner-up, won US$17,500 (RM56,753).

Learning from past mistakes

Kiproo and Chelimo each took home US$8,000 (RM25,944) and US$5,000 (16,215).

Meanwhile, Rotich said many runners were not prepared for the rainy and slippery road condition.

"I learnt from past mistakes and made sure not to repeat them this time around," he said.

A total of 16,500 runners took part in the marathon which offered prizes worth US$100,000 (RM350,00).

The prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, presented the prizes.