Deutsche Post Marathon Kenyan Edwin Kosgei narrowly fails to break course record

Bonn · Around 13,000 athletes took part in the 17th Deutsche Post marathon on Sunday. Edwin Kosgei’s winning time was just shy of the record set nine years ago.

It was a picture perfect marathon day, except for Mayor Ashok Sridharan, who had been strongly advised by his doctor not to run because of shoulder problems. Sridharan followed the advice with a heavy heart and his disappointment was clear as he showed his respect for the winner of the 17th Deutsche Post marathon in the Old Town Hall. “I couldn’t even keep up with his running pace for 500 metres,” commented Bonn’s mayor, before announcing for 2018: Next time I definitely want to be an active participant.

Kenyan Edwin Kosgei repeated last year’s victory and his time was a highlight of the event, which is aimed mostly at leisure sport athletes. With a time of 2:13:45, the man from the number one running nation was 41 seconds behind the course record set by his compatriot, Vincent Kipchirchir, in 2008. Over the classic 42.195 kilometre distance, 41 seconds is a tiny but irksome amount. However, Kosgei seemed relaxed after the finish. “I’m happy about my second successive victory in Bonn,” said the Kenyan and he affirmed: “Next year I want to come again.” His goal: the hat trick, if possible with a course record.

A new record for the Bonn marathon may have been set this time if the temperature in the city centre had not climbed significantly above 20 degrees. Kosgei could have then celebrated a small additional payment, but the prize money remained Euro 2,200 for the winner. It was made up of Euro 500 for first place plus a Euro 1,700 time bonus (100 Euro for every minute under 2 hours 30 minutes).

The perfect spring weather spurred on last minute registrations and the 13,130 entries fell just short of last year’s record of 13,560. Prisca Kiprono was likewise spurred on. Like Kosgei, the Kenyan runner repeated her win from last year, although she was not totally happy with her time of 2:49:42. “I had stomach problems and had to slow down,” said Kiprono.

Results, videos and photos are online at: ga.de/marathon. (Orig. text: Berthold Mertes, Thomas Heine and Bernd Joisten)

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