Maybe I can run 2:01 in the future – Kenyan Ekiru after Milan marathon victory

Kenyan Ekiru aiming for 2:01 marathon

JOHANNESBURG, May 17 (ANA) – Kenya’s Titus Ekiru ran the fifth fastest time ever over 42.2km with his victory in 2:02:57, at the Milano Marathon, in Milan, on Sunday.

Clearly buoyed by his monumental effort, Ekiru felt he could challenge compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:01:39.

“I feel emotional. Maybe I can run 2:01 in the future,” said the 29-year-old Ekiru.

“From the 20km mark, I was feeling good and I said I would push a bit till the 30km mark. We tried to push with my friend Rueben [Kipyego] and at the 35km mark, I decided to increase the pace a bit to see if I can get a good time.”

It was Ekiru’s second victory in Milan, having won in 2019 in 2:04:46, the previous Italian all-comers’ record. Gebrekidan, meanwhile, was competing in Italy for the first time and was rewarded with a four-minute Personal Best [PB].

This year’s race, held in ideal 13 degree celsius temperatures, was staged on a 7.5km circuit in front of the Castello Sforzesco in the heart of Milan.

In the men’s race, the leading pack of 10 athletes set a consistent pace in the first half, passing 5km in 14:47, 10km in 29:28 and 15km in 44:13. Leading South African runner Stephen Mokoka, acting as a pacemaker in Milan, reached the half-way mark in 1:01:48.

Ekiru started to push the pace after 30km, covering the next five-kilometre segment in 14:11 and the following one in 14:34. He maintained that pace to the end and, having covered the second half in 1:01:09, went on to cross the finish line in 2:02:57.

The first five men finished inside the previous Italian all-comers’ record. Reuben Kipyego finished second in 2:03:55 ahead of Barnabas Kiptum (2:04:17), 2018 Milan Marathon winner Seifu Tura from Ethiopia (2:04:29), Leul Gebrselassie from Ethiopia (2:04:31), and Gabriel Gerald Geay, who set a Tanzanian record of 2:04:55. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman