MERSIN MARATHON IN TÜRKIYE: Vitalis Kibiwott smashes Turkish Allcomers’ record at Mersin Marathon

Vitalis Kibiwott smashed the Turkish Allcomers’ record when he became the surprise winner of the Mersin Marathon.

The 27 year-old Kenyan clocked a big personal best of 2:07:14 and improved the mark and the course record by almost one minute. In contrast a pre-race favourite took the women’s race in excellent weather conditions:

Rebecca Tanui of Kenya crossed the line in 2:25:35. The Mersin Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race.

So far the race in Mersin, a major port city with a population of just over one million people located at the south eastern coast of Türkiye, is hardly known internationally. There were just over 400 marathon runners at the start line on Sunday morning for the seventh edition of the event while around 2,000 competed in a non-elite 10k race. However recent editions of the marathon had already produced a number of fine times on the flat course that could well be suitable for significantly faster results. 

Eritrea’s Ghirmay Gebreslassie was the star name on the start list of this upcoming Turkish marathon. However the 30 year-old World Champion from 2015 developed a hamstring problem early in the race and dropped out at 18k. It was then his 18 year-old brother Abraham Embaye who surprisingly took the initiative and passed the half way mark in 63:52. The youngster stayed ahead until the late stages of the race but could not quite hold on. With little more than five kilometers to go he was first passed by Vitalis Kibiwott and then by fellow-Kenyan Albert Kangogo.

While Embaye held on to third place with 2:08:29 Kibiwott finished strong and improved the Turkish Allcomers’ record by 59 seconds to 2:07:14. A year ago fellow-Kenyan Bethwell Kipkemboi won with 2:08:13 in Mersin. 27 year-old Kibiwott improved his personal best by almost four minutes. Coming to Türkiye with a PB of 2:11:08 he was only number eleven on the start list. “My training was very good, so I was expecting to run a sub 2:08 and fulfilled my expectations. The young Eritrean was ahead by quite a distance during the race, but I gradually closed the gap. I did not hurry, I felt strong towards the end and made my move,” said Vitalis Kibiwott who added: „The Mersin Marathon has a completely flat and very fast course.“

In the women’s race Rebecca Tanui took the lead early in the race. When she passed half way in 72:30 the Kenyan was still followed closely by Genet Robi. The Ethiopian held on for some more time, but around the 30k mark Tanui moved away and then won with 2:25:35. While the 2:23:08 course record was out of reach it was the fastest marathon time run in Türkiye this year.

And for 33 year-old Rebecca Tanui it was another fine performance at the classic distance. A year ago she was the winner of the Kosice Marathon with a strong PB of 2:21:08, this spring Tanui was runner-up at the Vienna City Marathon. 

Results, Men:

1. Vitalis Kibiwott KEN 2:07:14

2. Albert Kangogo KEN 2:07:26

3. Abraham Embaye ERI 2:08:29

4. Samuel Naibei KEN 2:08:59

5. Abebaw Desalew ETH 2:09:14

6. Isaac Kibet UGA2:10:19

Women:

1. Rebecca Tanui KEN 2:25:35

2. Genet Robi ETH 2:26:07

3. Peninah Jerop KEN 2:30:52

4. Millicent Kibet KEN 2:31:05

5. Letebrhan Gebreslasea ETH 2:35:35

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