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Kenya’s Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo, Edwin Kiptoo and Mike Kiptum Boit faltered as their bitter rival from Ethiopia Jemal Yimer dominated the Seoul Marathon on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

A sprint finish saw Yimer finish ahead of his male rivals as Fikrte Wereta won the women’s race, both securing a double for Ethiopia.

Yimer, a two-time world half marathon fourth-place finisher, continued with his marathon journey with an almost three-minute personal best of 2:06:08.

The men’s race was a tight one, as a group of athletes remained intact even after the 30km mark. Shortly thereafter, Yimer broke away with seven.

The Ethiopian sat back in the pack up to that point and passed 10km in 29:43 and 20km in 59:54. The pace remained consistent as he reached 25km in 1:14:37, and 12 athletes were still running together at the 30km mark, hit by the leaders in 1:29:35.

Ethiopia’s Guye Adola, the 2021 Berlin Marathon champion, had looked in control on that stage as he and Kenya’s Mike Kiptum Boit kept switching the lead. A group of seven forged ahead, and six athletes remained together as 35km was reached in 1:44:27.

When the group hit the 40km mark, four athletes were in close competition to finish first. Boit faded, but his compatriots Kilimo, Kiptoo, and Yimer strode ahead.

Yimer made a decisive move at the final corner; he looked back over his shoulders before he launched a sprint finish to beat Kiplimo and Kiptoo.

Yimer clocked 2:06:08, with Kilimo a second behind him and Kiptoo a further second back. Boit held on for fourth place in 2:06:20, while Derseh was fifth in 2:06:22.

Women’s contest

Meanwhile, in the women’s race, the tempo eased as the leaders reached 10km in 33:28, with Kenya’s Celestine Chepchirchir leading at this point.

The 15km point was crossed in 50:25, and the 20km point was passed in 1:07:29, with the main contenders remaining together as an eight-strong group hit 30km in 1:41:05, according to World Athletics.

Wereta, Jisa, and Yemer passed the 35km mark together in 1:57:42, with Jepkesho 11 seconds back at that point. Wereta had built a lead of 23 seconds by 40km, passed in 2:13:54, as she was chased by Jisa (2:14:17), Yemer (2:14:43), and Jepkesho (2:15:01).

Wereta continued to stretch her lead and had an advantage of 47 seconds by the finish, which she crossed in 2:21:32. 

Jisa secured the runner-up spot in 2:22:19, while Jepkesho passed Yemer in the closing stages to claim third place (2:22:52 to 2:23:20).

Leading results

Men

 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:06:08
2 Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo (KEN) 2:06:09
3 Edwin Kiptoo (KEN) 2:06:10
4 Mike Kiptum Boit (KEN) 2:06:20
5 Balew Yihunie Derseh (ETH) 2:06:22

Women
1 Fikrte Wereta (ETH) 2:21:32
2 Desi Jisa Mokonin (BRN) 2:22:19
3 Visiline Jepkesho (KEN) 2:22:52
4 Betelihem Afenigus Yemer (ETH) 2:23:20
5 Yebrgual Melese (ETH) 2:23:43