Kenya's Reuben Kipyego and Vivan Kiplagat win Abu Dhabi marathon

Kenya’s Reuben Kipyego and Vivian Kiplagat secured emphatic victories in the second Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon on Friday morning.

The 23-year-old made marathon history, starting as the pacemaker to take first place in a time of 2:04:40, smashing his personal best set earlier in the year at the Buenos Aires Marathon by 38 seconds. He was followed one minute and 41 seconds later by fellow Kenyan Joel Kimurer. Ethiopia’s Fikadu Teferi Girma secured the third spot.  

In the women's race, Kiplagat stormed to victory in a time of 2:21:11, setting another new personal best, shaving over a minute off the time set in her victory at the Milano Marathon earlier this year. She was followed Ethiopia’s Wude Yimer Ayalew and Yeshi Chekole Kalaya.

Meanwhile, Ethiopians Teresa Nyakola Gela and Sintayehu Tilahun Getahun were victorious in the male and female 10k race respectively, while Emirati Ayed Al Ahbabi won the elite wheelchair category by clocking 1:51:12. He was followed by fellow countrymen, Husain Al Mazam and Ali Al Saadi.

The event attracted over 16,500 professional and novice runners who took part across four race categories – 42k, 10k, 5k and 2.5k – and were able to take in the capital’s iconic landmarks including Emirates Heritage Village and Qasr Al Hosn.