Geoffrey Ronoh turned from pacemaker to a sensational winner in the course of the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon on Saturday evening, beating the marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang by eight seconds to set an event record for the Czech race of 60:17.
Ronoh broke away from fellow-Kenyan Kipsang with just over two kilometres left before the finish in the Old Town Square. They had shared the pace with Ronoh, a member of Kipsang’s training group, looking ominously strong. Another pre-race favourite, 25 k world record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya, trailed throughout and finished third with 61:42. The European marathon champion, Viktor Röthlin of Switzerland, finished seventh in 63:23.
Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat lived up to her favourite status as the women’s world marathon champion. She also set an event record with 68:53. Runner-up was last year’s winner, the Ethiopian Betelhem Moges, who was 30 seconds behind. Her compatriot Hirut Alemayehu took third in 70:57.
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