Pacemaker Reuben Kipyego Takes Surprise Win at Abu Dhabi Marathon with 2:04:40

Posted by: Watch Athletics


Kenyans Reuben Kipyego and Vivian Kiplagat won the 2019 ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon on Friday morning.

The 23-year-old Kipyego made some history in Abu Dhabi starting the race as a pacemaker to win the marathon with a massive personal best time of 2:04:40.  He missed the course record by 36 seconds but managed to beat his personal best time set earlier in September at the Buenos Aires Marathon by 38 seconds.

“I’m surprised with the result,” Kipyego told reporters after the race. “My job today was to set the pace but I felt good throughout the entire race and just kept going the distance.”

“This was a tough race to win like any other major marathon,”

 “I am very happy with my own performance and the result.” said Kipyego who took home the $100,000 prize for the win.

Another Kenyan Joel Kimurer clocked 2:06:21 to take 2nd place ahead of Ethiopian Fikadu Girma Teferi (2:09:16). Defending champion and course record holder Kipserem dropped out of the race before the halfway mark of the race.


As it was predicted before the race Vivian Kiplagat prevailed in the women’s race in a personal best time of 2:21:11 bettering her personal best by more than a minute.

“My objective was to run 2:20 but it was still a personal best time and I’m glad of the day’s work,” Kiplagat, who won Milan Marathon in April in a PB of 2:22:25.

Behind Kiplagat in second place were two Ethiopian runners Wude Atalew (2:24:03) and Yeshi Kalayu (2:24:28).

See full race results here

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