Press Release - Istanbul Marathon - 11/5/23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                    Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon:
			  
    Kenyans Mkungo and Cheptoo celebrate biggest career wins in Istanbul

Panuel Mkungo and Beatrice Cheptoo celebrated their biggest career wins 
when the Kenyans took the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon on Sunday in 
windy and warm conditions. Hopes for records were ruined by the weather 
conditions and Mkungo clocked 2:10:35 while Cheptoo crossed the line on 
Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square after 2:27:09. Taking into account the 
conditions and the tough final uphill stretch both winning times reflected 
really strong performances. The winners were rewarded with a prize purse of 
30,000 Dollar. 

Including races at shorter distances a total of 45,000 runners competed in 
the 45th edition of the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon, which is an 
World Athletics Gold Label Road Race. Around 5,000 of them were running the 
classic distance with its unique route, starting in Asia and finishing in 
Europe. 

In temperatures of around 20 Celsius and partly very breezy winds the men's 
pacemakers guided the leading group through the 10k mark in 30:06. While 
the group was on 2:07 pace at this stage of the race one of the main 
favorites had already dropped out: Defending champion Robert Kipkemboi of 
Kenya, who dropped out before the 10k point.  

The 2:07 pace continued for a while but the wind then had a significant 
impact in the following section. A group of eight including three pacers 
passed the half way mark in 64:43. When the final pacemaker dropped out 
shortly after the 25k point it was Panuel Mkungo who took the lead. For a 
short while Matthew Kemboi was able to make up the deficit and to join his 
fellow-Kenyan in the lead. However around the 28k mark the 29 year-old 
Mkungo, who has a PB of 2:10:20, started another surge and this time Kemboi 
could not respond.  

Panuel Mkungo was not among the strong favorites before the race since he 
had been number eight on the start list. But he crossed the line first in 
2:10:35 and was well ahead of his fellow-Kenyans Benard Sang and James 
Kiplagat who clocked 2:12:41 and 2:12:44 respectively to take second and 
third. "I never expected to win the race, this is a huge surprise. It was 
very tough, but I felt good. I hoped to may be finish in the top three," 
said Panuel Mkungo, who comes from the small town of Voi, which is around 
100k inland from Mombasa and not at altitude.

While the men missed their goal of breaking the course record of 2:09:44 
the women's mark of 2:18:35 set by Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya back in 2018 
was never a target in this year's race. A group of seven runners stayed 
together for long parts, passing 10k in 34:46 and then half way in around 
73:30. Shortly before 25k Beatrice Cheptoo, fellow-Kenyan Veronica Maina 
and Worknesh Alemu of Ethiopia were the only ones to be able to hold on to 
the 2:27 pace. Alemu then dropped back by 28k but the other two were locked 
in a battle for victory until the final section. As soon as the course was 
going upwards towards the historic city centre with two kilometers to go 
Veronica Maina could not hold on. Beatrice Cheptoo, who has a fine 2:22:28 
PB and who was the fastest on the start list, moved away and won in 
2:27:09. Veronica Maina ran 2:27:24 for second place and Valentina Mateiko 
made it an all-Kenyan podium with 2:32:15. 

"I am very happy to have won this race, it was tough with the wind and the 
uphill sections. This is my greatest victory so far," said 30 year-old 
Beatrice Cheptoo, who lives with her family near Eldoret. "I will use part 
of the prize money for the school fees of my two children."

Results

MEN:
1 Panuel Mkungo     KEN 2:10:35
2 Benard Sang       KEN 2:12:41
3 James Kiplagat    KEN 2:12:44
4 Mathew Kemboi     KEN 2:13:48
5 Dominick Kipkirui KEN 2:15:45
6 Abraraw Misganaw  ETH 2:18:37
7 Hüseyin Can       TUR 2:19:17
8 Ömer Alkanoglu    TUR 2:19:26

WOMEN:
1 Beatrice Cheptoo      KEN 2:27:09
2 Veronica Maina        KEN 2:27:24
3 Valentina Mateiko     KEN 2:32:15
4 Worknesh Alemu        ETH 2:34:04
5 Sifan Melaku          ETH 2:34:32
6 Aberu Mekuria Zennebe ETH 2:35:38
7 Zerfie Limeneh        ETH 2:36:06
8 Linah Cheruto         KEN 2:40:06

More information is available at: https://maraton.istanbul

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