Kenyan athlete Brimin Kipkorir beat all odds to emerge the winner in the men’s event at the annual Taipei marathon on Sunday, December 15.
In an event that attracted 28,000 participants, Kipkorir emerged as the victor in the 42.2-kilometer run, with an impressive time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 41 seconds.
His time was just two minutes shy of the Taipei marathon record of 2:09:18, which was coincidentally set by another Kenyan – Paul Lonyongata- in 2020.
In the women’s category, Amid Fozya Jemal of Ethiopia finished with a first-place time of 2:32:47. Her time was about seven minutes behind the race’s women’s record of 2:25:55.
Scenes from the Taiwan race on Sunday, December 15, 2024. PHOTO/ Taiwan News
According to the race organizers, winners of the marathon are set to walk away with Ksh8.7million ($67,500).
Kipkorir, a Kapkitony native, is no stranger to marathons and has been competing in long-distance races for several years now.
In 2019, he successfully competed in the 17th edition of the Nairobi StanChart marathon where he emerged victorious, effectively collecting the Ksh2 Million cash prize.
Established in 1986, the Taipei Marathon has attracted tens of thousands of racers annually since 2001 following the completion of the Taipei Metro.
Typically runners begin the marathon at Taipei City Hall and follow a popular route known as the Renai Road west toward the Presidential Office and Ximen. The course then continues up Zhongshan North Road and crosses the Keelung River, which it follows east to Nangang Exhibition Center, before looping back at the finish line located at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
Besides the Taipei Marathon, Taiwan also hosts another prestigious competition; the New Taipei Wan Jin Shi Marathon.
Elsewhere, Kenyans also triumphed in the 2024 Bangsaen21 Half Marathon edition this weekend in impressive fashion, with six Kenyans finishing in the top 10 in the World Athletics Platinum label race in Thailand.
Winfridah Moraa Moseti won the women’s title, fending off Uganda’s Rebecca Chelangat and Rosemary Wanjiru.
A photo of the Hangzhou Marathon in China. PHOTO/ hangzhou.com
