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Kigen sets new Nairobi record

NAIROBI: Kenya’s Moses Kigen on Sunday won the Nairobi international marathon men’s race in a new course record of two minutes 10.12 seconds for his second victory over the distance this year. Kigen, who won the American Rock n’ Roll marathon in January with another course record, broke away from the three-man lead pack after 35 kilometres to cruise to victory ahead of newcomer Nathan Naibei and Peter Kiplagat Sitienei. His winning time was 18 seconds faster than the previous best set by Samson Tuiyange in 2008.

“Winning at home is a little bit tough but I was in the best shape,” said Kigen, who believes the course’s flat terrain also contributed to his victory. “I liked this course. It was really flat,” he said. In the women’s race, Irene Jerotich became the first runner to win twice since the event was inaugurated in 2003. A winner in 2006, Jerotich, started as the race favourite despite sitting out the last two years with a tendon leg injury which threatened to end her career. “I have been training for the last four months. I didn’t think I would win again right away but my body responded well,” Jerotich said.She won the race in 2:28:57 with Alice Ngerechi in second place in 2:30:38. Both winners took home 1.5 million shillings ($20,000). afp

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