Kenyas Valary Jemeli wins gold at Frankfurt Marathon

Valary Jemeli Aiyabei  was the star of the show on Sunday afternoon winning gold for Kenya in the 2019 edition of  Frankfurt Marathon, fending off stiff competition from Ethiopians to breast the tape in 2:19:10.

Keen to clinch the title, Aiyabei had a race plan which she stuck to leading from gun to tape and maintaining a steady pace throughout the race.

The tactic worked in her favour and she proved too strong for Ethiopian duo Alemu Kebede and Wondimagegn Assefa who bagged silver and bronze in 02:21:10 and 02:22:11 respectively.

Other Kenyans Lonar Chemtai and Rotich Cheptanui finished fourth and fifth after clocking 02:23:11 and 02:24:42 respectively in the tough race that attracted thousands.

In the men’s race, it was disappointing outing for Kenya as Martin Kosgey came out fourth after losing steam in the last one kilometre when Ethiopians Bekele Terefa and Arega Dawit broke away from him enroute to clinching gold and silver in that order.

Terefa hit the tape in 2:07:08 while Dawit clocked 2:07:10. The duo alongside bronze winner, Burundian Yiwere Aweke and Kosgey had kept a steady pace running in a group of four for the better part of the race but when it mattered most, they turned to their bags of trick leaving the helpless Kosgey gasping for breadth.

Top five -Men

Bekele Tefera -2:07:08

Arega Dawit -2:07:10

Yimer Aweke -2:07:12

Martin Kosgey -2:07:20

Mark Kiptoo-02:08:09

Top five-Women 

Jemeli Aiyabei, Valary- 02:23:11

Alemu Kebede, Megertu-02:21:10

Wondimagegn Assefa, Meskerem-02:22:11

Chemtai Salpeter, Lonah-02:23:11

Cheptanui Rotich, Caroline-02:24:42