"The race was decided at 28km when Kiprop, Tum and 2012 Milan winner Too
broke away, opening up a 20-second gap on Kibrom. The leading trio went
through 30km in 1:30:42 when they reached the Piazza del Duomo, one of the
symbols of the Italian Northern city.
Kiprop then pulled away, opening up a gap of 33 seconds over Tum at 35km,
reached in 1:46:02. The rising temperature took its toll in the final
kilometres but Kiprop managed to run faster than 2:09"
http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/milan-marathon-jepkesho-kiprop-2014
06 APR 2014 REPORT MILAN, ITALY
KIPROP AND JEPKESHO SCORE KENYAN DOUBLE IN MILAN
Kenya claimed a winning sweep on Sunday (6) at the 14th edition of the
SuisseGas Milano City Marathon, an *IAAF Bronze Label Race*, thanks to
Francis Kiprop and Visiline Jepkesho.
On a warm and sunny day, Kiprop took the honours in the men's race with
2:08:53, his fastest time for five years. Jepkesho made a winning debut to
her marathon career with 2:28:40, beating last year's winner Monica
Jepkoech by more than six minutes.
The men's race set off at a fast pace with twelve runners in the lead over
the first 10km. Pacemakers Alex Korio, Abraham Akopesha and Abdom Mulu led
the front group, passing 5km in 14:59 and 10km in 30:30.
The leading pack featured Stephen Tum, Daniel Too, Edwin Koech, Joash
Mutai, Abraham Tarbei, Francis Kiprop from Kenya, Wolde Debebe Tolossa from
Ethiopia, Gebrehegziaber Kibrom from Eritrea and Frank Caldeira from Brazil.
The race was faster than planned and at one point indicated a possible
attack on the 2:07 barrier and the course record set by Kenyan Duncan Kibet
who ran 2:07:53 in 2008.
Ten men were still at the front at the half-way mark, reached in 1:03:35,
which was right on target of the pace agreed on the eve of the race. But
the rhythm was somewhat inconsistent, going from a 2:55 split between 12km
and 13km, to 3:06 at 15km followed by another kilometre in 3:06.
The race was decided at 28km when Kiprop, Tum and 2012 Milan winner Too
broke away, opening up a 20-second gap on Kibrom. The leading trio went
through 30km in 1:30:42 when they reached the Piazza del Duomo, one of the
symbols of the Italian Northern city.
Kiprop then pulled away, opening up a gap of 33 seconds over Tum at 35km,
reached in 1:46:02. The rising temperature took its toll in the final
kilometres but Kiprop managed to run faster than 2:09.
The last time Kiprop ran faster than his winning time in Milan was when he
set his personal best of 2:07:04 at the 2009 Berlin Marathon. Today's race
was his 21st career marathon and just his third victory over the classic
distance. His other wins came in Madrid in 2013 with 2:10:37 and in Beijing
in 2011 with 2:09:00.
"At 30km, I realised I could win," said Kiprop, who hails from Kaptabet and
has five children. "I would like to return to Milan next year to break the
course record. The course was good but it was hot at the end."
Tum finished runner-up in 2:10:41, holding off Kibrom (2:11:12). The first
European finisher was Ukraine's Igor Oliferenko, who finished fourth in
2:13:10, more than two minutes ahead of a tired Too, who finished fifth in
2:15:13.
The Milan Marathon doubled up as the Italian Marathon Championships. The
national title went to marathon veteran Danilo Goffi, the 1998 European
silver medallist, who finished sixth overall in 2:17:20.
*Debutant defeats defending champion*
Last year's Milan Marathon winner Monica Jepkoech, Visiline Jepkesho,
Tsegaye Beyene and Tafa Megersa Mergertu - sister of 2006 Milan winner
Askale Tafa - went to the front in the early stages, going through 5km in
17:07 and 10km in 34:08.
After 13 miles, Jepkesho surged and pulled away from Jepkoech and Megersa.
The marathon debutant reached halfway in 1:12:13 with a 15-second gap over
Jepkoech.
The half-way split was just 23 seconds slower than Jepkesho's half-marathon
PB, but she continued to run at 2:25 pace through to 25km. Having to run
alone for most of the second half, the pace dropped slightly in the final
12km before she eventually crossed the finish-line in 2:28:40.
Jepkesho is the latest Milan winner in a long line of Kenyan starts,
joining the likes of 2002 winner Margaret Okayo, 2004 champion Rita Jeptoo,
2005 victor Hellen Kimutai and 2007 first-place finisher Pamela Chepchumba
"I came here just to learn how to run a marathon," said Jepkesho, who
trains with Priscah Jeptoo and is married to the brother of Rita Jeptoo,
another of her training partners. "For most of the race, I was confident
that I could win. The weather was ideal for me as it was not too humid. I
want to run other marathon races in the future."
The 14th edition of the Milan Marathon, held in an enjoyable atmosphere on
a warm spring day, saw 14,027 runners take to the streets from Rho Pero in
the early Sunday morning.
No fwer than 4500 took part in the marathon, while 2378 teams participated
in the Europ Assistance Relays Marathon to help raise funds for charity
organisations. Many present and past running stars like 2004 Olympic
champion Stefano Baldini, world silver medallist Valeria Straneo and Emma
Quaglia took part in the relay.
*Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF*
LEADING RESULTS
*Men*
1 Francis Kiprop (KEN) 2:08:53
2 Stephen Kipkemei Tum (KEN) 2.10:41
3 Ghebre Kibrom (KEN) 2:11:12
4 Igor Olefirenko (UKR) 2:13:10
5 Daniel Too (KEN) 2:15:13
*Women *1 Visiline Jepkesho (KEN) 2:28:40
2 Monica Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:34:49
3 Megersa Megertu Tafa (ETH) 2:35:41
4 Tsegaye Beyene (ETH) 2:36:23
Received on Sun Apr 06 2014 - 11:55:40 EDT