Kenyan runners -up shine in Delhi Half Marathon, Matata and Rengaruk Win titles

New -delhi, October 12 (IANS). Kenyan runners -up Alex Njioka Matata and Lilian Cassatt Rengaruk recorded remarkable victories on the 20th issue of the Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday. It was the second time the Kenyan runners-up titles in both the men’s and women’s categories won in the same issue of the event. Francis Kibiwote and Lyneth Chepkurui were the first runners to achieve such an honor. These runners -up achieved this achievement in 2006. Kenyan runner-up Alex Njioka Matata, who won the shelf half marathon earlier this year with a personal best time of 59:20, has the record for completing the race in less than 60 minutes seven times. It also includes the time of 59:53 in Delhi in the year 2024. Matata covered the first ten kilometers with his partner Ruben Rono in 28:43. During this time, six other runners also ran with him with a slight margin. The Kenyan runner -up completed the second half of the race faster. He won the men’s title in 59:50 minutes. It was Matata’s fifth half marathon victory this year. Ethiopia’s Bayelin Teshagar finished second (60:22), while the Kenyan James Kipkogi finished third (60:25). In the women’s category, the runners adopted a completely different strategy. Kasat Rengruk ran most of the race with a group of half a dozen runners, including Mulat Tekle and Melal Biratu of Ethiopia. This trio covered the 10 kilometer race in 32 minutes 10 seconds. Meanwhile, Kenya’s 2023 World Half Marathon Bronze Medal Catherine Amangole has been trying to join him for some time by raising her pace. The trio covered the 15 kilometers race 11 seconds within 48 minutes, but after this Amangool could not retain her pace and left behind as he moved to the finish of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. –Is RSG shares this story tags