LAHORE, Jan 14: Ethiopians Ketma Amerssissa and Merima Danboba won men’s and women’s 42.195kilometre race in the 3rd International Lahore Marathon on Sunday.

Amerssissa, wearing bib No 18, had another reason to celebrate as he improved his previous timings of two hours 21 minutes by reaching the finishing line in two hours 15 minutes 26 seconds amid thunderous applauds from lovers of the game.

In fact, it was a close finishing-tussle between Amerssissa and hot favourite Kenyan David Kuino, who claimed second position.

The race started from the Punjab Stadium and after passing through Ferozepur road, Lahore canal, the Mall and Lower Mall reached the Minar-i-Pakistan from where it took a U-turn to take the same route to finish inside the stadium.

The Ethiopian faced constant challenge from Kuino, who chased him closely to finish the distance in two hours 15 minutes 39 seconds with a mere difference of 13 micro-seconds.

Kuino, chest no 17, was hot favourite but his performance was below par as he could not even match his previous best timing of two hours 14 seconds.

Mark Yaitch, another Kenyan who was one of the favourites to win the competition, notched up third spot. He covered the distance in two hours 16 minutes 10 seconds which was far below to his previous best timing of two hours nine minutes.

Desse Demelesh (Ethiopia) and Yacob Yator (Kenya) won fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Amerssissa won cash prize of US$15,000 while the runners-up — Kunio and Yaitch — fetched $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

In the women section, the winner Danboba romped home in two hours 32 minutes 54 seconds to beat her previous best timing of two hours 33 minutes.

She had a clear lead over her closest rival Tigist Tito of Kenya, who crossed the finishing line in two hours 39 minutes 51 seconds against her previous best timing of two hours 37 seconds.

Valentina Poltvaska of Ukraine tried to break the hold of the African nations, seizing the third spot clocking two hours 40 minutes five seconds.

Poltvaska could hardly win the third spot as Tringo Getachew of Ethiopia posed a constant threat to her, reaching only after a micro-second to claim the fourth position.

Getachew had claimed third spot in the 2nd Lahore Marathon with a timing of two hours 40 minutes 59 seconds.

The women also received the cash prizes of the same worth offered to the men.

The organisers also honoured three local runners — Naseer Ahmed, Mohammad Aslam and Waris Masih — with cash prizes of $2,500, $2,000 and $1,500 respectively to encourage them.

Naseer clinched the first position completing the track in two hrs 33 min 57 sec. Last year, he timed two hrs 34 min 42 sec.

Aslam grabbed the second position. He covered the distance in two hrs 34min 33sec as against his previous timing of two hours 39min 26sec. However, Waris Masih, last year’s local winner, slipped to third spot after completing the distance in two hrs 36min seven sec.

Around 400 men and women, including 60 athletes from 12 countries competed in the event.

In the 10km race, Kenyans clinched the first two positions.

Patrick Makau, chest No1003, had an easy run, finishing the distance in 28min 2.12sec. While Nicholas Makau reached the finishing line in 28min 9.78sec.

Abera Eritiban of Ethiopia obtained third position by finishing in 28min 35.06sec.

In the women category, Ethiopian held their sway as Belaynesh Fekadu ran away with the main title. She finished the distance in 32min and five sec.

Catherine Mutwa (Kenya) snatched second position with timing of 33min 33.89sec, followed by an Ethiopian, Genet Measo (33min 58sec).

From Pakistan, Mohammad Arshed was first, covering the distance in 31min 35.75sec. He was followed by Mohammad Ilyas (31min 37.75sec) and Mohammad Sami (31.38.06).

Other local prominent runners who completed the track were Mohammad Ayub (31.48.72) and Mohammad Dishad (31.55.90).

Gulnaz Ara was the first among local women with a timing of 41min 13.93sec.

She was followed by Komal (52min 51.81sec), Afshan (53min 59.91sec), Ayesha (54min 22.91sec) and Ghazala (58min 8.53sec).

Around 8,000 men and women athletes appeared in this race.

Three separate races for disabled persons were also held for the first time in any marathon in which around 350 persons participated.

Mohammad Azhar of Lahore won the wheel chair, covering the 3km distance in 13min 27sec.

Asadullah from Mardan grasped the second place with a timing of 13min 52sec, followed by Aamir (Lahore), who clocked 14min 42sec.

Karim Buksh from Karachi was the winner of the tricycle race covering the 3km distance in seven min 58sec.

Ghulam Abbas (Mirpurkhas) earned the second spot while Nasir Butt (Lahore) came third.

Noor won the visually impaired race covering the 3km distance in 13min 13sec, followed by Khalil and Khalid Mahmood.

First three position holders of the disabled persons’ races received $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively.

Results:

42.195km:

Men’s: Ketma Amerssissa (Ethiopia) 2h 15m 26s; David Kuino (Kenya) 2h 15m 29s; Mark Yaitch (Kenya) 2h 16m 10s; Desse Demelesh (Ethiopia) 2h 16m 31; Yacob Yator (Kenya) 2h 16m 51s; Abel Chimussoko (Zimbabwe) 2h 17m 49s; Peter Mutisya (Kenya) 2h 18m 18s; Julius Mutai (Kenya) 2h 18m 24s; Oswald Reverian (Tanzina) 2h 18m 56s.

Women’s: Merima Danboba (Ethiopia) 2h 32m 54s; Tigist Tito (Kenya) 2h 39m 51s; Valentina Poltvaska (Ukraine) 2h 40m 05s; Tringo Getachew (Ethiopia) 2h 40m 5s; Jane Rotixh (Kenya) 2h 41m 7s; Mihret Anamo (Ethiopia) 2h 45m 11s; Tatyana Makarha (Russia) 2h 52m 1s; Lisa Wiklund (Sweden) 2h 54m 15s; Louise Kangogo (Kenya) 2h 57m 39s.

Pakistan’s runners: Naseer Ahmed 2h 33m 57s; Mohammad Aslam 2h 34m 33s; Waris Masih 2h 36m 7s.

10km:

Men’s: Patrick Makau (Kenya) 28m 2.12s; Nicholas Makau (Kenya) 28m 9.78s; Abera Eritiban (Ethiopia) 28m 35.06s; Tewodros Shiferaw (Ethiopia) 28m 40s; Kedir Burka (Ethiopia) 29m 37.98s, Mindi Puktas (Lithuania) 30m 7.10s; Andrey Farnosov (Russia) 30m 28.62s.

Women’s: Belaynesh Fekadu (Ethiopia) 32m 5s; Catherine Mutwa (Kenya) 33m 33.89s; Genet Measo (Ethiopia) 33m 58s; Monica Wangari (Kenya) 34m 49s; Serkalem Bislte (Ethiopia) 34m 56.9s.

Pakistan’s men: Mohammad Arshed 31m 35.75s; Mohammad Ilyas 31m 37.31s, Mohammad Sami 31m 38.6s; Mohammad Ayub 31m 48.72s, Mohammad Dilshad 31m 55.90s.

Pakistan’s women: Gulnaz Ara 41m 13.93s; Komal Jarral 52m 51.81s, Afshan 53m 59.91s, Ayesha 54m 22.91s, Ghazala 58m 8.53s.