Kenyan triumphs

PUNE, JAN 17: The Pune International Marathon title went foreigners8217; way for the second year in succession with Zablo Mokaya of Kenya winning the men8217;s title while Federova Lioubou of Italy the women8217;s half marathon in the 15th edition of the race, here today. Mokaya, running his first full marathon clocked two hours 22 minutes 54 seconds and will go home richer by Rs one lakh. Federova Lioubov, a Russian by birth but running under the Italian banner clocked one hour 29 minutes 49 seconds in the half marathon, on a day when the Services Railways teams failed to make it to the race for the first time in 15 years.

Mokaya did look tired after the 42.195 kms run, was never challenged along the stretch but for the temporary defiance by Russian Fedro Royjov at the 30 km mark. Fedro finished behind the champion four minutes and four seconds later, while Indian runner AH Chinnappa, capitalising on the Sri Lankan Sarath Prasanna Gamage8217;s unfortunate collision with the official pilot astride a motorcycle, gave theIndians something to cheer about, finishing third.

Breaking off from the bunch of four from the seven-km mark, Lioubov went on unchallenged and crossed the women8217;s half marathon finish point to hold aloft the glittering Mayor8217;s Trophy and collect a cash prize of Rs 60,000.The Madras Regiment Centre8217;s Havaldar Chinnappa, who was close behind the Lankan Sarath Prasanna Gamage with three kms to go before the finish, took advantage of the Lankan8217;s misfortune.

Results

Men8217;s 42.195 kms: Zablon Mokaya Kenya 2 hrs 22.54 mins; Fedor Ryjov Russia 2 hrs 24.58 mins; HA Chinappa India 2 hrs 32.07 mins; Sarath Prasanna Gamage Sri Lanka 2 hrs 32.36 mins; Khajan Singh Uttar Pradesh 2 hrs 34.20 mins; Hari Bahadur Rokaya Nepal 2 hrs 34.56 mins.

Women8217;s 21 kms: Federova Lioubov Italy 1 hr 29.49 mins; Nora Moranga Kenya 1 hr 32.59 mins; Harshada Joshi Pune 1 hr 35.43 mins; Sharda Chandel Punjab 1 hr 37.33 mins; Chandrakanti Wadm Sri Lanka 1 hr 37.39 mins; Pusha Devi Delhi 1 hr 40.06mins.