Dublin Marathon Observes its Best Finishing Time
Moses Kangogo Kibet, the 30-years old runner from Kenya bagged the title of 31st edition of the Dublin Marathon held on Monday. Making it to the finishing line in just two hours, eight minutes and fifty eight seconds, Kibet not only set his new
personal best, it was first time ever in the history of the Dublin Marathon that an athlete crossed the finishing line under two hours and nine minutes.
With a record 13,200 athletes taking part into the event, the race began under tough weather conditions but they did not hinder Kibet from thrashing the record of Russian runner Aleksey Sokolov by a difference of 11 seconds. Sokolov had set his record on
the Dublin track back in 2007.
Since 2004, when Lezan Kipkosgei Kimutai named the title, Kibet’s win brought the first success for Kenya on the Dublin track.
In women’s event, Tatyana Arysova maintained Russian grip on the title. She clocked the record time of two hours, twenty six minutes and 12 seconds. Arysova happens to be the seventh Russian winner of the Dublin marathon women’s race in last 9 years. Arysove
crossed the finishing line in an emphatic manner, while maintaining a distance of 13 minutes from her close rival Barbara Sanchez from Ireland who ended up second in the race.
While talking to the media about his marvellous success, Kibet said that the weather was rather tough for the race and he had not expected such a fast time out of it.
“Because of the weather, I had not thought that it would suit me, it was quite cold and I have never run in such low temperatures. Initially I thought I would not make it to the first place, however, while I was on my way, I did not find it that difficult”.
Despite of depicting an impressive performance, Kibet did not seem satisfied with his PB at the race; he was of the view that had he put a little more effort and had not allowed the negative thoughts which engulfed his mind in start of the race. He could
have done much better than that. He determinately said that next year he would try further harder and would attempt to improve his best time considerably.
Prior to the race at Dublin, Kibet had a best finishing time of two hours, thirteen minutes and twenty nine seconds which he had depicted at Limassol marathon on 28th of February this year.
The top five finishers of men’s race managed to cross the finishing line under two hours and eleven minutes. As it was expected, top four positions in the event were claimed by the Africans, out of which three were Kenyans.
Fikada Kedir, the Ethiopian runner stood second in the event, he crossed the finishing line in two hours, nine minutes and forty four seconds. He was forty seconds ahead of Kenyan runner Mourice Mutinda Musyoki, who made it to the finishing line in two hours,
ten minutes and twenty five seconds. Another Kenyan Kipshirchir claimed the fourth position by finishing the race in two hours, ten minutes and twenty seven seconds. Aleksey Sokolv, the previous record holder Russian runner ended up fifth, he took two hours,
ten minutes and thirty one seconds to cross the finishing line.
Sergiu Ciobanu, the Moldovan born runner who runs for the Clonliffe Harriers club of Dublin was the leading local. He made it to the finishing line in two hours, nineteen minutes and thirty three seconds. Among elite Irish finishers, Joe McAllister took
the lead for crossing the line in two hours, twenty one minutes and five seconds.
Aysova, the women winner of the event was rather happy with her victory, however she admitted that the course was quite tough. “When the race started and I had not yet made it to the half marathon mark, it felt as if it was very difficult to keep going
on, I don’t know why, but my legs felt quite heavy at that time, however, I am happy that I have made it successfully,”
Said the runner.
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