Underdogs Lagat, Alemu win Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai: Kenya’s Cosmas Lagat and Ethiopia’s Worknesh Alemu ran flawlessly to bag top honours at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, winning in 2:09:15 and 2:25.45, respectively.

Abera Kuma and Amane Gobena were pre-race favourites but both encountered problems in demanding conditions with race starting at 23 degrees centigrade to allow Lagat and Alemu hog the limelight. Kuma finished a lowly seventh among men. Gobena held on for second place finish while Birke Debele completed all Ethiopian finish on podium in the women’s full marathon.

Lagat, who was running with the pack also comprising of three pace makers till the half way mark, made smart push after 29 kms sensing Kuma’s was struggling with tight thighs. The Kenyan also benefited by other Ethiopian athletes decision to run in pack with struggling Kuma rather give a serious push until last few kilometres. Lagat had earned substantial lead by then and held it till the end. Ethiopians Aychew Bantie and Shumet Akalnew completed the men’s podium.

Kuma, the fastest man in the field with a best of 2:05:50, drifted away from the leading pack just after 30km and was never in contention afterwards for a place on the podium, eventually finishing seventh in 2:13:10.

Both winners recorded second fastest times in the history of the IAAF Gold Label Road Race and took away first prize cheques of  $45,000.

“I wasn’t sure about winning until I finished. I knew there were good runners behind me and from 35km I was never sure how close there were to me or whether they were coming back to me,” Lagat said. It was Lagat’s third win  with his other two victories also coming in hot weather conditions in Sevilla.