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Kenya’s Judith Jeptum won the Paris marathon on Sunday in a course record time of 2:19:48.  The 26-year-old took almost a minute of the previous course record for the Paris marathon set five years ago.

Fanti Jimma of Ethiopia was second at 2:22:52, followed by her compatriot Besu Sado 20 seconds further adrift. Jeptum’s win adds to a weekend of victory by Kenyan athletes. Kenneth Renju won this year’s Prague Marathon with a time of 59:28, while compatriot Nesphine Jepleting won the women’s race in 1:06:57 during the 22nd edition of Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon in the Czech Republic.

Renju took off from the group of eight at the last few hundred metres as the race was decided by kicks as the chase for the tape came almost to the wire tape.

He was more superior running away with the tape in a time of 59:28 ahead of Bahrain half marathon champion Philimon Kiplimo who clocked 59:33 to settled for second-placed. Mathew Kimeli who came to this race with the fourth-fastest time on paper closed the podium with three finishes in a time of 59:46.

Benard Kimeli, the winner of the last two editions could not manage to appear on the podium finishing fourth in 59:59.

Weldon Lang’at Kipkirui and Josphat Chumo Kiptoo finished in fifth and sixth place at a time of 1:00.57 and 1:01.04 respectively.

Africa Cross Country Champion Alfred Barkach, who is the most experienced runner in this field finished in a disappointing seventh place in 1:01.01.

“I liked the race, I enjoyed it a lot. Despite the cold weather, it was good. I had a more critical moment in the middle of the half marathon. Even though I didn’t feel pressure on myself, I wanted to win,” Renju said at the finish line.       

“Due to the chilly weather, I didn’t run a personal record but I am delightful for the victory,” Renju added. He improved his personal best to 58:35 during the race in the United Arab Emirates in February this year.

The fifteen years race course record of 58:47 that was set by Atsedu Tsegay from Ethiopia remains standing. Jepleting defeated former world cross country champion Irine Cheptai for the title where Kenyans swept the podium while Brenda Jepleting was third.

Jepleting won in 1:06:57 with Cheptai, running her 4th half marathon coming second in 1:07:17 with Jepleting winding the podium with 1:08:40.

“The weather caught me by surprise, I didn’t expect it to be so cold. The worst was the headwind, which made it hard in some moments. I wanted to break my personal best, but I’m glad I showed such time. It’s a good start to the season, next time I could reach my maximum,” Jepleting said.

A total of 11,500 runners registered for the race.