Bountiful weekend for Kenyan athletes

Kenyan athletes were in dominant form at several races across Africa and Europe this past weekend.

Cynthia Kosgei and Daniel Yator completed a double in Libreville, Gabon when they won the women’s and men’s races at the Gabon Marathon on Sunday 20 November. 

Kosgei won the women’s race in a time of 2 hours 28 minutes 40 seconds with Ethiopia’s Almenesh Herpa coming in second in 2 hours 48 minutes 54 seconds as a second Kenyan Sharon Cherop was third in 2 hours 49 minutes.

Yator won the men’s race in 2 hours 18 minutes 37 seconds, finishing ahead of compatriot Edwin Kipleting who timed 2 hours 20 minutes 03 seconds as Ethiopia’s Daniel Aschenik was third in 2 hours 22 minutes 27 seconds. 

Crossing over to Europe where Erick Kimutai Kering won the second edition of the Gran Canaria Maspalomas Marathon in Maspalomas, Spain in a time of 2:27.04 on Sunday.

2015 African U20 silver medallist, Fredrick Kipkosgei Kiptoo defended his title at the 27th edition of the Palermo Marathon held  in Palermo, Italy. He clocked a new personal best of 2:16.44 as compatriot Bonface Fundi Njiru took the second spot in 2:25.45.

Jackline Jeptanui won the women’s race in Palermo in a time of 2:38.44. 

34 year old Simon Njeri was also victorious in Italy, winning the Verona Marathon in 2 hours 18 minutes 47 seconds.