PRESS RELEASE – 27th VIENNA CITY MARATHON
Kenyans Henry Sugut and Hellen Kimutai take windy Vienna City Marathon
Hellen Kimutai winning the women's race PHOTO/VCM / Niki Wagner
Kenyans took both wins in the Vienna City Marathon for the first time in the history of the event. Henry Sugut was a surprise winner with 2:08:40 while Hellen Kimutai clocked 2:31:08.
A strong headwind in parts of the race had slowed the elite runners considerably. The 27th edition of Austria’s biggest and best quality running event registered a record number of 32,940 runners from 108 nations.
The men’s race had started fast and it looked as if the course record of 2:07:38 could be broken. Temperatures were ideal at the start with 8 degrees Celsius and sunshine. Accordingly the first split times were very fast. The leading group passed the 5 k point in 14:50 and had reached 10 k in 30:07.
But then unfortunately the wind picked up strongly, pacemakers tired early and split times slowed. Soon after they passed half way in 64:30 minutes the last pacemaker dropped out. In the windy conditions none of the eleven runners in the lead at 25 k (1:16:15) increased the pace.
After they had passed 30 k (1:32:19) four runners broke away: Henry Sugut and his fellow Kenyans Paul Kimugul and Joseph Lomala Kimospo as well as Ethiopia’s Mesfin Ademasu. It was then with around five kilometres to go, when Henry Sugut surged away from this group. The 24 year-old Kenyan had only run one marathon before (3rd in Reims with 2:10:45 in 2009) and thus had not belonged to the big favourites. Clocking 2:08:40 in Vienna on Sunday he improved his personal best by more than two minutes despite the wind.
Joseph Lomala Kimosop took second place with 2:09:32, also clocking a personal best. Ethiopia’s Mesfin Ademasu was third with 2:09:41. Fourth placed Henryk Szost (Poland) established a European seaon’s best with 2:10:27 while Austria’s big hope Günther Weidlinger suffered of a calf muscle problem and came in 12th with 2:14:05.
Pre-race favourite Felix Limo (Kenya) had to be content with seventh place in 2:11:34 while his fellow-countryman Luke Kibet, Kenya’s World Marathon Champion from 2007, had dropped out soon after the start with a calf muscle or Achilles tendon injury.
Henry Sugut winning the men's race PHOTO/VCM / Niki Wagner
“I am really happy and very proud to have won this race. Next time I hope to further improve my personal best,” said Henry Sugut. He also explained: “When the pacemakers dropped out early I did not want to push that early. Instead I waited until 30 k.”
In the women’s race a group of four runners reached the half way mark in 1:14:40. Among them were defending champion Andrea Mayr (Austria), the two-time Vienna winner Luminita Talpos (Romania/2007 and 2008) plus Irene Mogaka and Hellen Kimutai. The two Kenyans then took the lead before the 25 k mark and started opening a substantial gap.
It was then Mogaka who took the lead. She was six seconds ahead with seven kilometres to go. But then the Kenyan could not keep the pace and Hellen Kimutai overtook her with five kilometres to go. The 32 year-old Kimutai, who had been second in Vienna ten years ago, won with 2:31:08, followed by Irene Mogaka (2:31:28) and Olha Kalenarova-Ochal (Ukraine/2:33:05), who showed a strong finish coming from well behind. While Luminita Talpos came in fourth with 2:33:37 the defending champion Andrea Mayr (Austria/2:34:09) finished fifth.
“I knew Vienna is a good race, otherwise I would not have come back here,” said Hellen Kimutai, who has a personal best of 2:25:52.
Asked about how she manages to run at this level for such a long time with four children (11 and 8 years old plus twins at the age of 6) she replied: “My husband, who is a farmer and also helps me in training, takes care about the children. I owe my success to him.” Hellen Kimutai will head back to Kenya with 15,000 Euros to boost the family’s bank account. Henry Sugut collected the same amount for his first place.
For more information please visit: www.vienna-marathon.com or contact Andreas Maier (Press Officer) by phone (+43 650 350 1488) or E-mail: andreas.maier@vienna-marathon.com
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I work in Das Triest hotel… during the marathon we received so many clients! they was from different cities… very nice people
as for me I didn’t participate there but it was really grand event for Vienna