Kenya lands first Olympic gold in Rio

Women’s Marathon 1. Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) 2:24:042. Eunice Kirwa (Bahrain) 2:24:133. Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) 2:24:304. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) 2:24:475. Volha Mazuronak (Belarus) 2:24:486. Shalane Flanagan (USA) 2:25:22126. Claudette Mukasakindi (Rwanda) 3:05:57 Kenya’s Jemima Jelagat Sumgong won gold in the women’s marathon on Sunday in two hours, 24 minutes and four seconds after an aggressive and pre-planned surge in the final kilometres, becoming the first Kenyan woman to take the title. Bahrain’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa claimed silver in 2:24:13 while Ethiopian Mare Dibaba snatched the bronze in 2:24:30. Rwandas Mukasakindi, pictured racing towards the finish line of the 42km womens marathon on Sunday. / Internet photo. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Claudette Mukasakindi’s finished 126th out of the 133 runners, who completed the 42km race, with 157 athletes having started the race. The 33-year old Mukasakindi clocked three hours, 5 minutes and 57 seconds, which was way below the time she posted on her Olympic debut in London four years ago when she finished 101st with a time of 2:51:07. Sumgong’s gold is also Kenya’s first medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games that started on August 5 and will end on August 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ethiopia’s Tirfi Tsegaye, who was also among the big favourites, finished 4th after clocking 2:24:47 while Volha Mazuronak of Belarus came in fifth place using 2:24:48. The women’s marathon Olympic record is 2:23:07 and was set by Ethiopian gold medalist Tiki Gelana at the 2012 London Games, while Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe holds the world record of 2:17:42, set in 2005. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kenya lands first Olympic gold in Rio