Terfa and Kirop Triumph in Rome Marathon
Rome, Italy – The Acea Rome Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label race, saw fast times as Ethiopia’s Getachew Negari Terfa took the honours in the men’s race in 2:07:56, the second fastest time ever run in Rome, while Kenyan 36-year-old Helena Kirop Loshanyang won the women’s race in 2:24:40 on Sunday (17).
Kenya’s 36-year-old Helena Kirop claimed the victory in the women’s race in 2:24:40, the third fastest run ever achieved in Rome behind Galina Bogomolova’s course record of 2:22:53 set in 2008.
Terfa attacks at 40km
Pacemakers Matthew Kimutai, Luka Rotich and William Kibor set the early tempo in the first half of the men’s race, leading a big pack which went through 15km in 45:19 and then halfway in 1:03:43, a faster pace than when Benjamin Kiptoo’s set the course record of 2:07:17 in 2009.
Rotich then continued to be the main man to push the pace until he dropped out at the 30km mark which was reached in 1:30:37.
Nine men broke away from the rest of the pack at 35km, which was reached in 1:46:10: Terfa and fellow Ethiopians Haile Gemeda, Birhanu Gebru, Tsegaye Wolde Botoru and Bekana Daba Tolesa , along with Kenyan runners Samson Barmao, Stephen Chemlany, , Philemon Kisang and 2012 Rome winner Luka Lokobe Kanda. Read more
