NAIROBI, Kenya, October 28 – The 21st edition of the Standard Chartered Marathon, held on October 27, was an interesting one replete with touching storylines for some of the winners.
Ronald Kurgat won the men’s 42km at his 12th time of trying, having first competed in the annual road race in 2012.
The 38-year-old clocked 2:13:05 to cross the finish line first, ahead of Dominic Kipkurui (2:13:13) and Peter Kwemoi (2:13:14) in second and third respectively.
“I have developed a special attachment to the Standard Chartered Marathon. I don’t know why but I keep coming back here ever since I first competed in 2012. It is the first time I have won it and I feel great for having done it,” the two-time Jerusalem Marathon champion said.
Meanwhile, Kipkurui was celebrating a new personal best (PB) in what was his marathon debut at the road race.
“I ran in the men’s half marathon in previous editions but this time I decided to venture into full marathon. I am happy because apart from finishing on the podium, I have managed to improve on my PB,” the Izmir Half Marathon champion said.
Tears of joy
In the women’s 42km, Gladys Chemutai won the first time in her career, clocking 2:31:52 to cross the finish line first.
Caroline Koech timed 2:35:00 to finish second as Joy Kemuma clocked 2:36:06 in third.
Chemutai could not hold back her joy, describing how she has worked really hard for this glorious moment.
“I have been training really hard ahead of this competition. My husband and my daughter were watching on TV and I am sure they are celebrating as well. I had promised them I would give all my best to come back with victory and I am happy I got to do just that,” the 29-year-old said.
Her previous campaigns at the Standard Chartered Marathon in 2022 and 2023 had only yielded a fifth and seventh place finish respectively.
Chemutai dedicated the win to her family as well as her close friend and role model, the 2017 World Cross Country champion Irine Cheptai.
“She (Cheptai) has been my biggest inspiration in my career and I had promised her to go all out for victory. This win is dedicated to her as well as my family,” she said.
At the same time, it was a dream debut for Gladys Koech who emerged victorious in the women’s 21km.
Koech clocked 1:12:10 to finish ahead of Esther Chemutai (1:12:12) and Mary Jerotich (1:13:59) who took second and third respectively.
More importantly for Koech, the win was a perfect way to bounce back from the disappointment of finishing 18th in the senior women’s race at the National Cross Country Championships in Ruiru in March.
“My prayer to God coming into this race was to do well and receive a reward for the hard work I have put in training all this while. I am so excited to have won this race considering this is my first time participating in this competition. It was tough but I did it,” the 28-year-old said.
Another podium for Mutai
Meanwhile, Vincent Mutai made the podium for the second time in a month after winning the men’s 21km.
Mutai ran 1:03:27 to finish first whereas Keyborn Obato (1:03:34) and Silas Kiplimo (1:03:51) finished second and third respectively.
His win came only three weeks after he finished second at the Cardiff Half Marathon in Wales where he clocked 1:00:13.
Shadrack Musyoka was victorious in the men’s 10km after clocking 29:50, ahead of Dickson Katagon (29:58) and Robert Biwott (30:14) who came second and third respectively.
Emmy Chemutai clinched the women’s 10km after clocking 36:17 ahead of Daisy Kandie (37:43) and Sharon Rutto (38:19) in second and third.
The 21st edition of the road race attracted approximately 25,000 participants across five categories of competition – its highest number to date.