By IANS,
Mumbai : Kenyan runners swept all the three positions in the men’s open section at the Sixth Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here Sunday.
Kenneth Mugara emerged champion with a new course record of two hours 11 minutes and 51 seconds, ahead of compatriots David Tarus (two hours 12 minutes and two seconds) and two time winner John Kelai (two hours 12 minutes and 23 seconds). India’s Ram Singh stood fourth in the 42-km marathon.
The previous record of two hours 12 minutes and three seconds was set by Kenyan Daniel Rono in 2006.
Mugara bagged $31,000 while Tarus and Kelai were richer by $20,500 and $13,000 respectively. Singh won $10,000.
In the 21-km Half Marathon category, India’s Surinder Singh emerged first in the men’s section while Kavita Raut bagged the top honour in the women’s category.
The race started amidst tight ground and air security cover provided by three helicopters, from the Mahapalika Marg, adjacent to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), one of the sites targeted by the terrorists in the Nov 26 attacks.
It wound its way up to Bandra’s Swami Vivekanand Road, and from there returned to CST by the same route.
About 150 elite foreign athletes, including 52 women, took part in the full marathon that attracted 2,500 entrants.
The event was held under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India with technical coordination by Maharashtra Athletic Association.