‘Kenyans,Ethiopians like brothers’

While luck did not favour the team this time around as compared to the Marathon last year when the Kenyans ran past their Ethiopian rivals,the Vice President of the Kenyan Athletic Association,Paul Mutwi firmly believes that contrary to popular belief the two countries are never at loggerheads with one another while running Marathons. “Kenyans and Ethiopians are family. They are not enemies. In fact I am happy that this time around also the two countries have dominated the Marathon.” While he was all praise for the way in which the Marathon was organised,Mutwi admitted that this year around it was the weather that made a lot of difference to the runners.

He said,“No one was dehydrated. In fact all long distance runners start cramping after covering 35 kms of a race,with the exception of a few who eventually go on to win the race. But today it looked like the runners could easily run more given that the weather had not sapped them out of their strength.”

He also made a mention that the timing for the runners given the weather and the course was a very good one. “Back in Kenya,the runners had trained for five months prior to coming here. Of which three months of the training was endurance training to build up the stamina,and the remaining two months comprised of running through the streets and hill climbing,” he said.

International Half Marathon results:

Men’s Half Marathon (21.098 kms) (International)

1.Feysa (Ebraemikael) (Ethopia) (1:04:59)

2. Sraw Kebede (Ethopia)( (1:05:10)

3. Gishu Dida Maco (Ethopia) (1:05:18)

Women’s Half Marathon (International ) ( 21.098 km)

1. Jane Muia) ( Kenya) (1:13:46)

2. Josephine Kimuru) ( Kenya ) (1:14:15) 3. Elince Kioko (Kenya (1:17:49).