S P O R T S    U P D A T E

Sugut, Seboka win Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai, January 16
Julius Sugut of Kenya and Mulu Seboka of Ethiopia emphasised African domination in the long-distance running and sprinted to the finish line en route to their maiden major titles to claim the men’s and women’s crowns, respectively, in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon here today.

Twenty-six-year-old Sugut, who was second in Mumbai last year, raced to the tape in two hours, 13 minutes and 20 seconds, to improve upon 2004 winner Henrik Ramaala’s 2:15.47, and helped himself to the winner’s cheque for $ 30,000.

Tanzania’s Christopher Isegwe finished second, while Ethiopian Gashaw Malese completed the East African party with a third place.
Twenty-one-year-old Seboka rallied to her victory in 2:35.03 for a winner’s cheque for $ 20,000, while compatriot Leila Aman came second, clocking one minute and 16 seconds behind the winner. A 34-year-old Russian, Irina Timofayeva, a strong contender, finished third with one minute, 39 seconds behind the winner.

On a beautiful morning that saw the temperature dip to 18°C, Sugut, who also finished second in Marseille, ran a smart race, preferring to remain in the pack behind initial leader Erik Kiplagat, the formidable Kenyan who established a rhythm for the elite athletes.

Simon Tanui of Kenya, one of the contenders, made a strong effort and was pacemaker after 75 minutes, followed by the African pack.
However, Sugut, running a tactical race at a brisk pace on a very fast and familiar course that was conducive to quick running, for the first time took the lead after an hour and a half to show why he was determined to head towards the top of the rostrum this time around.

With the athletes sheltered from the wind by the city’s tall buildings, Sugut left behind South Africa’s Colin Khozza and Malese with a gap of 40 m between them, but five minutes later, Malese chose to put the pressure on Sugut and closed the gap to 25 m.

As Sugut reached Worli Dairy after one hour and 45 minutes, he upped his tempo as Malese, still not giving up, trailed 100 m behind in second place and Khozza came a close third.

With the Half Marathon due to start at 0930 hours, Sugut widened the gap, with a determined Malese bridging it a bit. At the end of two hours, Sugut was alone at Marine Drive, but still under pressure from Malese, whose lean frame was a silhouette in the thick smog 60 m away. — UNI