MARRAKECH MARATHON, MOROCCO – 25 JANUARY 2009:

The 20th edition of the race on a fast, flat course also benefitted from ideal weather conditions (12°C, and little wind). In the men's race eight runners passed halfway in 1:05:45. Sammy Kibet started to push adter 25km and by 38km only three contenders remained.

Of these David Ruto took over the leadership and Kibet began to drop back after 40km. Adhane Yamane followed a little later. Ruto, who had been recruited to the race as a pacemaker, improved his personal best by over five minutes.

In the women's race last year's winner Yeshi Esayias strode away from the rest of the field to win by 9 minutes. There was a combined field of over 6000 runners for the Marathon and half marathon events.

MEN:
1  David RUTO                             KEN  2:10:31
2  Adhane YAMANE                ETH  2:10:48
3  Sammy KIBET                   KEN  2:11:08
4  Hassan BELKHANOUCH       FRA  2:12:21
5  Adelo ROBA                      ETH  2:12:57
6  Gebrselassie REDA             ETH  2:13:54
7  Zaid LAAROUSSI                MAR  2:15:05
8  Said REGRAGUI                 SWE  2:19:23
9  Hassan OULHAMI               MAR  2:21:19
10 Said THRAT                      MAR  2:22:02

WOMEN:
1  Yeshi ESAYIAS                       ETH  2:29:52
2  Genet KAHSAY                   ETH  2:38:22
3  Beta NAIGAMBU                 NAM  2:39:11
4  Nadha WIJENBERG             NED  2:46:17
5  Aziza EL OUAFI                 MAR  2:46:39
6  Fatima BIDAYA                 MAR  3:00:58
7  Taye FEKADU                    ETH  3:01:54
8  Mahbora BELKACEM           TUN  3:05:42
9  Edith DOYEN                     FRA  3:21:26
10 Samantha WOODWARD    GBR  3:23:43

HALF MARATHON
MEN:
1  Allan NDIWA                         KEN  1:02:12
2  Dennis NDISO                  KEN  1:02:31
3  Mark TANUI                     KEN  1:02:38

WOMEN:
1  Malika ASHSA                        MAR  1:09:54
2  Asmae LEGHZAOUI           MAR  1:11:11
3  Tigist TUFA                      ETH  1:11:46

Source: AIMS.org