Sunday

2018 Sedan-Charleville (24.3km)

Top five

1. Felicien Muhitira (Rwanda) 1h11’48” 2. Elvis Tabarach (Kenya) 1h11’50” 3. James Kibet (Uganda) 1h12’03” 4. Alfred Cherop (Kenya) 1h12’09” 5. Tony Pkiror Langangoi 1h13’28

RWANDA’s long distance runner Athlete Felicien Muhitira on Sunday successfully defended his Sedan-Charleville Half Marathon title in France, becoming the first Rwandan to win the race twice.

The 99th edition of the annual event attracted over 3000 athletes from different parts of the world with Muhitira, alias Magare, being the only Rwandan athlete.

The 22-year old who set the race’s current record of the quickest time last year, yet again proved his prowess as he beat a strong field of hopefuls, including Kenyans and Ugandans.

Muhitira covered the 24.3-kilometre race in 1 hour, 11 minutes and 48 seconds. He marginally beat his closest contender Elvis Tabarach of Kenya by two seconds. The latter had finished third at last year’s edition.

Ugandan James Kibet claimed a bronze medal after crossing the finish line in third position after posting 1hour,12 minutes and 3 seconds while Kenyan Alfred Cherop (1:12:09) who retained his fourth position, which he had finished in last year.

Last year, while making his debut appearance, Muhitira clocked 1 hour, 10 minutes and 4 seconds to claim gold, breaking a 54-year record of the fastest time in this race that was set by Norman Ameur, who had posted 1:11:08 in 1963.

The former Nyamasheke Athletics Club runner is the first Rwandan to win this race twice but the second to win it after Dieudonné Disi (now retired), who won the 2012 edition.

Following his Sedan-Charleville Half Marathon triumph, Muhitira has shifted his focus on the upcoming 20km de Paris race, set for October 14, where he finished fourth last year.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw