Men’s race

Vitalis Kibiwott smashed the Turkish Allcomers’ record, becoming the surprise winner of the Mersin Marathon. The 27-year-old Kenyan clocked a big personal best of 2:07:14, improving the mark and the course record by almost one minute. In contrast a pre-race favourite took the women’s race. Rebecca Tanui of Kenya crossed the line in 2:25:35.

Eritrea’s Ghirmay Gebreslassie was the star name on the start list of this upcoming Turkish marathon. However, the 30-year-old World Champion from 2015 developed a hamstring problem early in the race and dropped out at 18km. It was then his 18-year-old brother, Abraham Embaye, who surprisingly took the initiative and passed the halfway mark in 63:52.

The youngster stayed ahead until the late stages of the race but could not quite hold on. With little more than 5kms to go, he was first passed by Vitalis Kibiwott and then by fellow-Kenyan Albert Kangogo. While Embaye held on to third place with 2:08:29 performance, Kibiwott finished strong and improved the Turkish Allcomers’ record by 59 seconds to 2:07:14. A year ago, fellow-Kenyan Bethwell Kipkemboi won with 2:08:13 in Mersin. Twenty-seven-year-old Kibiwott improved his personal best by almost four minutes. Coming to Türkiye with a PB of 2:11:08, he was only number eleven on the start list. “My training was very good, so I was expecting to run a sub 2:08 and fulfilled my expectations. The young Eritrean was ahead by quite a distance during the race, but I gradually closed the gap. I did not hurry, I felt strong towards the end and made my move,” said Vitalis Kibiwott, who added: “The Mersin Marathon has a completely flat and very fast course.”

Women’s race

In the women’s race, Rebecca Tanui took the lead early. When she passed halfway in 72:30, the Kenyan was still followed closely by Genet Robi.

The Ethiopian held on for some time, but around the 30km mark, Tanui moved away and then won with 2:25:35.

While the 2:23:08 course record was out of reach, it was the fastest marathon time run in Türkiye this year. And for 33-year-old Tanui, it was another strong performance over the marathon distance. A year ago, she was the winner of the Kosice Marathon with a strong PB of 2:21:08; this spring, Tanui was runner-up at the Vienna City Marathon. 

The Mersin Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race.

Results

Men

1. Vitalis Kibiwott KEN 2:07:14
2. Albert Kangogo KEN 2:07:26
3. Abraham Embaye ERI 2:08:29
4. Samuel Naibei KEN 2:08:59
5. Abebaw Desalew ETH 2:09:14
6. Isaac Kibet UGA 2:10:19

Women

1. Rebecca Tanui KEN 2:25:35
2. Genet Robi ETH 2:26:07
3. Peninah Jerop KEN 2:30:52
4. Millicent Kibet KEN 2:31:05