Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela ran away with men’s title at the 46th edition of the Bankasi Istanbul Marathon held on Sunday (03) in Instanbul, Turkey.
The 29 year-old who came to this race with a personal best of 2:08.38 that he got early this year at the Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon, where he finished in third place, beat the race favorite and the fastest man on paper, Kenneth Kipkemoi of 2:05.43, a time he got in April at the Rotterdam Marathon where he finished in fourth place.
Debela who found himself among four Kenyans, took charge of the race at the 41km mark and pulled himself further away from Kipkemoi who was the oldest athlete on paper and Mathew Samperu.
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The Ethiopian who has participated in three marathons this year, further dropped Samperu when they passed the 600m mark, unleashing a powerful kick that the latter could not respond to, and surging ahead solo to cut the tape first in a time of 2:11.40 with the Samperu coming home in second, fifteen seconds later.
Kipkemoi who is the 2011 All- Africa Games half marathon silver medallist, was left with no option but to settle in third place in 2:12.07.
Kenyans Bernard Kipkorir and James Kiplagat finished in fourth and fifth in respective time of 2:12.50 and 2:13.25.
LEADING RESULTS
42KM MEN
- Dejene Debela (ETH) 2:11.40
- Mathew Samperu (KEN) 2:11.55
- Kenneth Kipkemoi (KEN) 2:12.07
- Bernard Kipkorir (KEN) 2:12.50
- James Kiplagat (KEN) 2:13.25