Kenya's Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba produced a powerful late surge along the Bosphorus to win the 48th Istanbul Marathon on Sunday, 1 November, in a new course record of 2:08:44, wiping a full minute off the previous best on the Turkish city's intercontinental route.

The old mark of 2:09:44 had stood since 2019, when it was set by another Kenyan, Daniel Kibet. Kipchumba crossed the line at Sultanahmet Square about 10 seconds clear of Ethiopia's Sufaro Woliyi Kebeto, who was timed at 2:08:54, while Vincent Kipyegon Ronoh secured a second podium place for Kenya in 2:08:57.

How the race was won

The race started at 9am local time just behind the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, taking runners from Istanbul's Asian side across to Europe. A large lead pack stayed together for much of the morning before the decisive moves came on the late inclines along the Bosphorus, where Kipchumba pulled away from Kebeto and Ronoh.

According to results reported by Turkish and Kenyan outlets, seven men finished under two hours and 10 minutes, underlining the depth of the elite field. Turkey's best finisher, Hüseyin Can, came home 11th in 2:17:53.

Organisers said 45,679 people registered across the day's events, among them 8,427 in the full marathon and the rest in a 15.5km race, a corporate run and a public fun run. The elite field had 43 athletes, 27 men and 16 women.

Ethiopian sweep in women's race

There was no Kenyan joy in the women's race, which Ethiopia dominated. Kasanesh Ayenew Baze won in 2:24:40, seven seconds ahead of compatriot Azmera Abreha Gdey (2:24:47), with Diribe Hirko Alemu third in 2:25:00. Unlike Kipchumba, the women's winner did not break the course record.

Pay day and presidential praise

The Istanbul Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, pays US$50,000 (about Sh6.5 million) to each winner, with an extra US$5,000 (about Sh650,000) for a course record. That puts Kipchumba's haul at roughly Sh7 million. Second place is worth US$20,000 and third US$10,000, according to figures published by Kenyan outlets.

President William Ruto congratulated the athletes on social media, saying he was "impressed by the spectacular victory of Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba at the Istanbul Marathon". He also praised Ronoh's third-place finish, saying both runners had flown the Kenyan flag high.

A record-breaker on the road

The victory adds to an impressive road CV for Kipchumba. He holds a personal best of 2:05:35, set when he broke the Shanghai Marathon course record in 2023, and has also won in Xiamen (2:08:04) and Hong Kong (2:10:48). He ran a course record 2:07:28 on his marathon debut in Munich, and has personal bests of 1:01:47 in the half marathon and 28:04 over 10km.

His win in Turkey came just hours before Kenya's big-name runners, led by defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto, lined up for the New York City Marathon later on Sunday.

Photos: The Eastleigh Voice (courtesy); K24 Digital. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.