Rome Marathon: Rutto leads Kenya in sweeping top 8 positions
By Joel Sang, March 17, 2024
The Kenyan unit at the Rome Marathon showed a spectacular performance by claiming the top eight positions on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Asbel Rutto emerged as the winner of the race when he clocked 2:06:23 to set a new course record. Brian Kipsang was second, and Sila Kiptoo, third, completed the podium finish.
This is the second podium finish for Rutto after achieving that feat again when he finished second at the Mersin International Marathon in Turkey in December. He clocked 2:09:46.
Reuben Narray, Isaac Cheluko, Samuel Kiptoo, Paul Tiongik, and John Rotich claimed the remaining top eight positions in a show of dominance shown by Kenya.
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The Rutto-led dominance saw a number of top leaders in the country congratulate the team for their success.
“Rome is painted Magical Kenya! Hongera Asbel, Brian, Sila, Ivyne, Lydia, and the rest of Team Kenya at the Rome Marathon,” Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba said.
Aden Duale, the CS for Defense, was also not left behind.
“At the ongoing ACEA Run Rome Marathon, Team Kenya has asserted its dominance on the tracks again.
“Congratulations to Asbel Rutto and Ivyne Lagat for bagging gold in the men’s and women’s races, respectively. Others who managed a podium finish were Brian Kipsang and Sila Kiptoo, second and third in the men’s category, and Lydia Simiyu, second in the women’s category,” Duale tweeted.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, termed the Rome performance impressive and remarkable.
“Kudos to Asbel Rutto and Ivyne Lagat for their gold medal triumphs, Brian Kipsang and Sila Kiptoo for clinching second and third spots in the men’s race, and Lydia Simiyu for securing second place in the women’s race, completing the podium sweep with finesse.
“An impressive 9 out of 10 slots in the men’s marathon have been claimed by Team Kenya, a remarkable feat that fills us with pride,” the former Sirisia Member of Parliament said.
The Principle Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, also congratulated the team.
“Team Kenya has painted Italy with the colorful stripes of our national flag! At the ACEA Run Rome Marathon, Asbel Rutto and Ivyne Lagat came in first in the men’s and women’s marathons, respectively.
“In the men’s race, Team Kenya swept the first eight positions, while in the women’s, we took the first two podium finishes. Congratulations, Champs!” he said.