NAKURU: Kenyans Geoffrey Koech and Viola Chepngeno won the men’s and women’s races, respectively, on Sunday(today) in the 20th edition of the Boston Half marathon which meandered through the city’s Emerald Necklace and Franklin Park. Koech,broke away in the last 3 kilometers,from a 4-man lead pack to win the Boston Half in 1:02:02.

Koech smashed Lelisa Desisa’s previous course record of 1:00:34 by more than 30 seconds.

Ethiopian Tsegay Kidanu was second after he cross the finish line in 1:02:10 while Morrocco’s Zouhair Talbi sealed the podium place in 1:02:15.Teshome Mekonen (Ethiopia1:02:28) and Shadrack Kimining (Kenya 1:02:39) came fourth and fifth respectively.

Koech, who is also the 2019 Birell Prague 10k winner, edged out Ethiopian duo of Gizealaw Ayana and Chimdessa Gudeta who placed second and third respectively during the Cardiff half marathon held last month.

Koech timed 1:00:01 as Ayana and Gudeta finished in respective times of 1:00:17 and 1:00:18. “The course was good and it feels good to win here. I pushed really hard and it was my fastest performance in Boston,” Koech said. Chepngeno won the women’s race with a time of 1:10:40. Ethiopians Bosena Mulatie (1:10:43) and Hiwot Gebrekidan (1:11:09) finished second and third.Vibian Chepkirui (Kenya-1:11:20) Anna Dibaba (Ethiopia 1:11:39) and

Cynthia Limo (Kenya 1:12:11) were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.