Bahrain’s Kimutai wins in Barcelona marathon

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Three of Bahrain’s elite athletes excelled in international races yesterday, highlighted by Marius Kimutai who powered to an impressive victory in the Zurich Marato Barcelona in Spain.

Kimutai triumphed in the men’s race of the 42.2-kilometre event while setting a new meeting record and personal best in the process.

The run was a 2023 World Athletics Label Road Race Gold level competition. Kimutai was part of the leading pack who broke away from the rest of the field and battled for the crown.

He and two other competitors maintained a fast pace throughout the middle part of the race before separating himself alongside Othmane El Goumri from Morocco.

Kimutai then broke free with around three kilometres to go and went on to win in two hours five minutes 53 seconds.

He beat the old meeting record of 2:05:53, set by Yihunilign Adane of Ethiopia last year, and also shattered his old personal mark of 2:05:47, which he clocked in 2016 in Amsterdam.

El Goumri finished six seconds behind Kimutai as runner-up, while Kaan Kigen Ozbilen of Turkey was third in 2:05:37. “I am very happy,” said Kimutai after the race.

“I felt strong, and I thank God for the win.” He was the lone Bahraini athlete competing in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Bahrainis Shuma Dechasa and Abraham Cheroben also had impressive results in leading international-level races yesterday.

Dechasa narrowly missed out on a podium after placing fourth in the New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon in Taipei, and Cheroben claimed a solid sixth in Semi Marathon de Lille in France.

In Taipei, Dechasa completed the 42.2km men’s race in a time of 2:14:13.

Barnabas Kiptum led an all-Kenyan trio to the podium, winning in 2:11:57.

James Mburugu was second in 2:12:09 while Emmanuel Kibet came third in 2:12:37.

Dechasa’s time was far from his personal best of 2:06:43 in the marathon—a mark he clocked in 2014.

In Lille, Cheroben raced in the 21.1km men’s half marathon and finished in 1:01:54.

A trio of Kenyans were on the podium once again, led by Patrick Mosin who won in 59:31.

Alfred Barkach followed just a second behind, while Solomon Kipchoge was third in 59:37.

Cheroben’s personal best in the half-marathon is 58:40, which is also currently the Asian and Bahraini record in the distance.