Kenyans dominate Colombo Marathon

By Madushka Balasuriya

Kenyan runners once again dominated the Colombo Marathon, with their legion of long distance runners sweeping most of the podium positions on a wet and muddy Sunday (7). 

James Tallam secured a second successive Colombo Marathon victory on just his first second visit to Sri Lanka completing the 42km course in a time of 2 hours 21 minutes and 52 seconds, bettering his time by nearly two minutes from the previous year. He was joined on the podium by compatriots Stephen Mungathia Mugambi (2:21:58) and Peter Keter (2:22:30)

Kenya also dominated the women’s event with Margaret Njuguna (2:52:54) winning the full marathon, making it two wins in three years in Colombo, while fellow Kenyan Emily Jepkoech (2:53:49) came in second.

There was some joy though for the locals watching on as S.R.G. Amila Sanath Kumara (2:25:35) finished fourth in the men’s full marathon, while M.S.P.M. Perera (2:53:56) did one better in the women’s event grabbing third place.

It was an all Sri Lankan affair in the men’s half marathon though, with Sri Lankan runners taking the top three spots, as D.G.D. Sadaruwan (1:09:37) came in ahead of Dilkusha Kariyawasa (1:10:17) and Priyankara Prithi Raj Somarathna (1:11:07)

The women’s half marathon meanwhile was a well-spread-out affair with American Amanda Chang (1:25:13) winning out over second-placed Sri Lankan Krishna Kumari (1:27:23) and the third-placed Devika Bakshi (1:43:13).

Pix courtesy LSR