Ethiopians dominate 2016 Boston Marathon

Ethiopians dominate 2016 Boston Marathon

Ethiopia completed its first-ever sweep of the men’s and women’s Boston Marathon race as Atsede Baysa snapped the Kenyan women’s five-year winning streak with defending champion Caroline Rotich dropping out of the race at the 5-mile mark.

On the men’s side, a stunning late charge allowed Lemi Bernahu Hayle to beat last year’s winner Lelisa Desisa by just 47 seconds to finish on a time of 2 hours 12 minutes and 44 seconds. Desisa finished on an unofficial time of 2 hours 13 minutes 32 seconds as Yemane Adhane Tsegaye completed a clean sweep for the Ethiopians.

On the hour mark the women’s lead pack had been whittled down to 12 including 3 Kenyans and with 24 kilometres done, 2 runners dropped off leaving the lead pack with 10 in a time of 1 hour 15 minutes 25 secs.

Kenya’s Valentine Kipketer, Flomena Cheyech and Joyce Chepkirui broke off followed by Tirfi Tsegaye after 1 hour 30 minutes.

Further behind in the men’s race, no clear winner had emerged after 1 hour as the lead park stuck close to each other.

Ethiopian duo Hayle and Desisa charged away in tag-team formation and soon opened a sizeable gap. On the 2 hour mark, Kipketer and Chepkirui ploughed on unable to shake off the gallant Tsegaye.

Thirty minutes later, Baysa stormed to a lead pack consisting of Kipketer and fellow Ethiopian Tsegaye making clear her intentions of clinching the 2016 title.

She went on to clinch the title in an official time of 2 hours 29 minutes and 18 seconds with fellow Ethiopian Tsegaye coming in second with unofficial time of 2 hours 30 minutes 3 seconds  while Kenya’s Joyce Chepkirui finished third with unofficial time of 2 hours 30 minutes 50 seconds.

Kenyan men failed to secure the title for the fourth consecutive year with Wesley Korir being the last Kenyan to win the race in 2012.

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Ethiopia boston marathon Joyce Chepkirui Atsede Baysa Flomena Cheyech Valentine Kipketer

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