Ethiopian & Kenyan Athletes dominate 2013 Taiyuan International Marathon

TAIYUAN, China (Xinhua) — African runners dominated the 2013 Taiyuan International Marathon as six participants from Ethiopia and Kenya won top three in both the men’s and women’s competitions here on Saturday.

Wolde Botoru Tsegaye of Ethiopia clocked two hours, 11 minutes, 27 seconds to win the men’s title. Mutai Mike Kiprotich and Wahome Julius Muriuki, both from Kenya, finished second and third in 2:11:36 and 2:11:45 respectively.

“It’s very difficult today, but I feel that I have much energy during the second half. My tactic proves good, especially because I have a strong finish in the last two kilometers,” said Tsegaye.

The best performance of local runners in the men’s competition was from Bao Hongyu, who finished 11^th in 2:28:45.

Kenya’s Ngerecgi Alice enjoyed a comfortable win in the women’s race. She finished in 2:30:40, more than one minute faster than the silver medalist Roba Radiya Adlo of Ethiopia who clocked 2:31:50.

The bronze medal went to Jimma Fantu Etcha, also from Ethiopia, who clocked 2:32:54.

China’s Zhang Jingxia won the best performance among local runners, finishing sixth in 2:38:22.

First launched in 2010, the Taiyuan International Marathon this year attracted a record over 30,000 local and foreign runners.

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