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Kenyans second best as Rupp, Dibaba rule Chicago Marathon

Charity Wanja By Charity Wanja Published on: October 08, 2017 06:06 (EAT)
Kenyans second best as Rupp, Dibaba rule Chicago Marathon

Both champions from the 2016 Chicago Marathon failed to hold on to their titles as Olympic bronze medallist Gallen Rupp and former Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba raced to glory on Sunday.

Rupp became the first American since 2002 to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, holding off defending champion Abel Kirui of Kenya for his first major victory at the distance.

Rupp, this year’s Boston Marathon runner-up, won in a personal best of 2 hrs 9 mins 20 secs to defeat Kirui by 28 seconds with Kenya’s Bernard Kipyego third in 2:10:23.

Former world champion Dibaba of Ethiopia won the Chicago Marathon women’s title on Sunday, pulling away to win her first major crown at the distance.

Dibaba won in 2hrs 18mins 31secs to defeat Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei by 1:51 with American Jordan Hasay third in 2:20:57. Florence Kipalagat thus relinquished her title.

The men’s race started off on a slow pace as they went through 20km mark in 1:02:43 with a projected finish of 2:12:15. World record holder Dennis Kimetto dropped out after the 21km mark.
They started to spread out, approaching the half way mark in 1:05.49 with Bett and Kirui remaining stuck to the leading pack that had nine athletes.
At 30km, the pace was pushed a bit higher led by Kirui in 1:48.33 while Kenyan Stephen Sambu fell off to the back.
It was down to three – Kirui, Ladema and Rupp – as the race started taking sahpe as they approached 35km. Rupp made a move on Kirui who was fighting hard not to lose touch with the American. 
 
Rupp kept looking over his shoulder to check on Kirui who looked tense about 20m at the back. 
 
Rupp opened the gap further to give him a 14 seconds lead over the defending champion as they covered 40km in 2:03.08.
Very fast
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia wins the women's race with a time of 2:18:31 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 08: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia wins the women’s race with a time of 2:18:31 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP
The women covered the first 15km in 49:02, led by Dibaba as Kosey and Kiplagat chased her with a predicted finish of  2:17:50.
Dibaba and Kosgey kept on pushing in the women’s at a comfortable pace As they hit the half way split in 1:21.59. Kiplagat was nowhere to be seen as the duo pursued the race honours.
The four-time IAAF World Cross Country champion, started opening a small gap between her and Kosgei who slowed down after covering 30km in a time of 1:38.50.
The two-time African champion covered  35km in 1:54.50, it was clear that Dibaba was headed for the top podium place as Kosgei completely faded off from the background. Dibaba went through the rest of the distance at a very fast pace with nobody close to challenge her.

Leading results

Men

1. Galen Rupp (USA) 2hrs 9mins 20secs

2. Abel Kirui (KEN) 2:09:48

3. Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 2:10:23

4. Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:11:01

5. Stephen Sambu (KEN) 2:11:07

6. Kohei Matsumura (JPN) 2:11:46

7. Ezekiel Chebii (KEN) 2:12:12

8. Zersenay Tadese (ERI) 2:12:19

9. Chris Derrick (USA) 2:12:50

10. Michael Shelley (AUS) 2:12:52

Women

1. Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2:18:31

2. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:20:22

3. Jordan Hasay (USA) 2:20:57

4. Madai Perez (MEX) 2:24:44

5. Valentine Kipketer (KEN) 2:28:05

6. Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:28:45

7. Maegan Krifchin (USA) 2:33:46

8. Alia Gray (USA) 2:34:25

9. Taylor Ward (USA) 2:35:27

10. Becky Wade (USA) 2:35:46

Tags:

Brigid Kosgei Chicago Marathon Tirunesh Dibaba Florence Kiplagat Dennis Kimetto Bank of America Chicago Marathon Abel Kirui Marayhon Stanley Biwott

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