The Indians made a clean sweep in the Half-Marathon event by claiming the top three positions in the Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.
Updated at 2.10 pm
MUMBAI: Kenya's John Kelai won the Mumbai Marathon clocking 2:12:30 in the the 42.195-km race, while Ethiopia's Gashaw Melese came second, followed by country-mate Tariku Jufar here on Sunday morning.
Mounting a superb rally in the second half of the race, Kelai overcame a stiff challenge from Gashaw to walk away with a cheque of $31,500.
Kelai, who was trailing Jufar till the 34-km mark, picked up pace after the Peddar Road flyover to emerge victorious in his debut run in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
Kelai said, ''I was prepared more this time and it helped me a lot to win the marathon.'’
China's Xiao Shu Yang emerged champion in the women's category of the marathon.
The Chinese runner timed of 2:36:17 hours to take the first spot in the 42.195-km race.
Yang was a picture of concentration and stamped her class in no uncertain terms to end an African domination in the event.
The second place went to Ethiopia's Letay Negash, who clocked 2:37:05, while Kenya's Jennifer Chesinon Lingakwiang (2:38:14) finished third.
The Indians made a clean sweep in the Half Marathon event by claiming the top three positions.
The 21.097 km race, the first event to be flagged off in the morning, was won by Pune's Deep Chand with a timing of 1:08.03 followed by Bhairav Singh Lone (1:08:25) and Sachin Sonawane (1:08:27).
India's Madhuri Gurnule claimed the top honours in the women's half-marathon event.
Gurnule came up with a timing of 1:19:54 to bag the top spot ahead of Switzerland's Saviola Oppliegar and Bhagwati (India), who finished second and third, respectively in the 21.097-km race.
The winners were given prizes by Maharashtra Chief Secretary DK Shankaran and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Johny Joseph.
The main event of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon -- the full marathon (42.195 km) -- was flagged off by Joseph at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 7.40 am.
The race that created enthusiasm in the city with nearly 30,000 people from all walks of life participating in the international event created a new life on the roads of Mumbai, starting from Azad Maidan near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus via Marine Drive-Worli to Bandra and back.
Celebrities, including industrialist Anil Ambani, Jackie Shroff and Manisha Koirala participated in the run.
Children, celebrities and others were on the streets to watch, enjoy and cheer the participants.
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