Abraham Kiptum marked his return to competitive road running in style on Sunday, winning the men's full marathon at the 23rd Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds, as debutant Mercy Kandie Rotich claimed the women's title on a day that drew more than 30,000 runners to the capital's streets.

The 37-year-old from Kapsabet, who is back after serving a four-year anti-doping ban, edged Amos Cheruiyot by just two seconds in a tense finish along the Southern Bypass course. Mark Kibiwott completed the podium in 2:11:05, with Dismas Kiplimo (2:11:15) and Henry Kiprono Togom (2:11:55) rounding off the top five, according to results published by Citizen Digital and The Star.

Kiptum's winning time was 23 seconds outside the course record, Citizen Digital reported. The victory earned him the Sh2 million top prize.

From comeback to podium

Kiptum was once among the fastest half marathoners in the world, setting a then world record of 58:18 in Valencia in 2018 before an athlete biological passport case led to his suspension. Sunday's win, on home soil and in front of a large crowd, completes a notable comeback for an athlete whose career had appeared to be over.

The men's race stayed bunched for long stretches before the leading group thinned out in the final kilometres, leaving Kiptum and Cheruiyot to battle to the line.

Rotich wins on marathon debut

In the women's race, 27-year-old Rotich, running her first full marathon, broke away from the chasing pack after the 25-kilometre mark and held on to win in 2:31:25. Citizen Digital reported that she had previously competed over the half-marathon distance and spent four months training in Iten ahead of the race.

Peris Jerono finished a close second in 2:31:27, telling reporters she had struggled with stomach problems after the first eight kilometres, while Ruth Wakabu was third in 2:31:36. Shyline Jepkorir (2:34:35) and Dorothy Kipkilach (2:36:38) came fourth and fifth. Rotich also took home Sh2 million.

Half marathon, 10km and wheelchair races

Nahashon Kipsang improved on his runner-up finish from last year to win the men's half marathon in 1:03:07, while Orba Chemurgor took the women's 21km race in 1:11:55 ahead of Esther Borua and Mercy Kimaiyo.

According to The Star, Alfred Kimani won the men's 10km in 29:21 and Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek claimed the women's 10km in 32:20. In the wheelchair half marathon, Samwel Kuria (1:28:54) and Mercyline Ajenjo (1:39:04) were the winners.

Record turnout and Sh11.24 million purse

Organisers said more than 30,000 participants from over 100 nationalities took part, among them over 400 elite athletes. Women made up slightly more than half of the field, with 15,796 entries against 14,904 men, and the majority of registrants were aged 45 and under, The Star reported.

The total prize purse stood at Sh11.24 million. Beyond the Sh2 million awarded to each full-marathon winner, half marathon and wheelchair winners received Sh300,000, while the 10km winners pocketed Sh200,000.

The event attracted record sponsorship of Sh273 million, with registration fees of Sh76 million set aside for Standard Chartered Foundation community programmes focused on youth education, employability and entrepreneurship. The marathon has now raised Sh596 million since it began.

Local Organising Committee chairman David Mwindi said the race's strength lies in "the quality of the experience and the integrity of the competition," adding that "every participant deserves dependable support." Organisers set up 19 hydration stations, roaming bicycle medics and muscle-relief points along the route, and each finisher received a tree seedling as part of a plan to plant 40,000 trees with Nairobi County.

Athletics Kenya President and World Athletics Vice President Jackson Tuwei was among the officials at the event.

Photos: Citizen Digital