Ethiopian Athletes dominate Honk Kong Marathon

Honk Kong - Some shrewd investing by Ethiopian runners Feyera Gemeda (2:15.05) and Rehima Kedir (2:34.53) paid off handsomely when they won at the 2014 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race on Sunday (16).

The two runners, who were not on the invited list, took a gamble and spent over $1,000 each on air fares to fly from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, to the Chinese Special Administrative Region.

The two Ethiopians pocketed US$65,000 for their wins.

Gemeda finished first, followed by fellow Ethiopian Bedada Abdisa Sori and Willy Kibor of Kenya. Defending champion Julius Maisei of Kenya had to settle for a fifth place finish,

Women’s race
Kedir took the women’s title for her second marathon victory in a row, following a win in Beirut last November.

She too had to beat the defending champion, her compatriot Misiker Mekonnen Demissie, who was going for a hat trick of wins; and failed by just 12 seconds to do so.

“I felt OK for 20k, but then I tired, and couldn’t reply when Rehima took the lead,” said Mekonnin Demissie.

Nevertheless, Kedir said she wasn’t confident of victory until the closing stages.

Kedir won in 2.34.53, with Mekonnen second in 2.35.05, and a third Ethiopian, Shitaye Gemechu third in 2.35.18.

Read more at IAAF.org