Sumgong becomes first Kenyan women to win marathon in Olympics

Posted by: Watch Athletics


Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong became the first Kenyan women to win Olympic marathon gold on Sunday in Rio.

In the final stages of the race Sumgong pushed aways from Bahrain runner Eunice Kirwa and Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia to finish the race first in 2:24.4.

Eunice Kirwa finished 9 seconds behind Sumgong to take silver, while Mare Dibaba concluded the podium in 2:24.30.

Belarus runner Volha Mazuronak produced a surprise 5th place finish with a time of 2:24.48. Mazuronak, who once in a while was pushing the pace,  is reportedly coached by Russian marathon drug cheat Yulia Shobukhova. 

Meanwhile american runners made some history by placing all three runners in top 10.  Shalane Flanagan was sixth in 2:25:26; Desiree Linden was seventh 2:26:08; and Amy Cragg was ninth in 2:28:25.

The 39-year-old two time New York marathon winner ,Jelena Prokopcuka ,of Latvia placed in 12th position in 2:29.32. Her place was the best among European athletes in this marathon. 

Just 2km before the finish a group of protester broke through the barrier and tried to disturb the race leaders. Rio Olympic security personnel reacted fast and removed the protesters before they ried to disturb the runners. 

Humidity and and temperature around  around 25C did not favour the marathon runners in Rio.

 Top Results

 Place

 Nation

 Name

 Time

1 KEN

SUMGONG Jemima Jelagat

2:24:04
 2 BRN

KIRWA Eunice Jepkirui

2:24:13
3 ETH

DIBABA Mare

2:24:30
4 ETH

TSEGAYE Tirfi

2:24:47
BLR

MAZURONAK Volha

2:24:48
6   USA

FLANAGAN Shalane

2:25:26 
7   USA

LINDEN Desiree

2:26:08 
8   BRN

CHELIMO Rose

2:27:36
USA

CRAGG Amy

2:28:25
10  PRK

KIM Hye-Song

2:28:36
11  PRK

KIM Hye-Gyong

2:28:36
12   LAT

PROKOPCUKA Jelena

2:29:32
13   ITA

STRANEO Valeria

2:29:44 
14   JPN

FUKUSHI Kayoko

2:29:53
15 PER

TEJEDA Gladys

2:29:55 
16  POR

FELIX Ana Dulce

2:30:39
17   LTU

LOBACEVSKE Diana

2:30:48
18  AUS

CLARK Milly

2:30:53
19   JPN

TANAKA Tomomi

2:31:12
20  IRL

MCCORMACK Fionnuala

2:31:22 

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