Kaski, 16 February: Kenyan runners have dominated the 19th Pokhara International Marathon held in the country’s tourist capital Pokhara on Saturday.
Kenyan runner Wilson Cheruiyot won the marathon (42.195 km) organized by the Former Athletes Forum Nepal, finishing the race in two hours, 17 minutes, 24 seconds. He received a prize of Rs. 500,000 along with the title. He also broke the previous record of two hours, 19 minutes, 36 seconds held by Kenyan runner Julius Muriali Wahom.
Julius, who won the previous edition, finished second, two seconds behind, finishing the race in two hours, 17 minutes and 26 seconds. He received a prize of Rs. 300,000. Another Kenyan runner, Onesmus Gitau Jorog, finished third in two hours, 18 minutes and 21 seconds and received a prize of Rs. 200,000.
Nepali runner Kiran Singh Bogoti secured the fourth place in the marathon. Nepali runner Niroj Bhatta Chhetri came in fifth place, while Rikhulal Singh Magar came in sixth place, Dinesh Singh Bogoti in seventh place, and Kenyan runner Michael Mathias in eighth place. They each received cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000, and Rs 10,000, along with medals and certificates, respectively.
Niroj Bhatta Chhetri came first in the marathon for Gandaki Province. He clocked 2 hours 38 minutes 22 seconds. Similarly, Rikhulal Magar came second, Dinesh Singh Bogoti came third, Meenrashi BK came fourth, Ashok Baram came fifth, Sanam Gurung came sixth and Pritam Gurung came eighth. They received cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 8,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 4,000 respectively.
In the men’s 21 km half marathon, Kenyan runner John Bansatara finished first in 1 hour 09 minutes 07 seconds. He received a cash prize of Rs 75,000. Nepali runner Santosh Bikram Bista finished second in 1 hour 09 minutes 56 seconds and received a prize of Rs 50,000.
Similarly, in the women’s half marathon 21 km race, Nepali runner Olympian Santoshi Shrestha became the champion by completing the race in one hour 20 minutes 03 seconds. This is her second consecutive victory in the Pokhara Marathon. Similarly, Kenyan runner Swaron Zonotik came second by taking a time of one hour 21 minutes 07 seconds, while Pushpa Bhandari finished third and Ashma Bik fourth and Dropata Kumari Kathayat secured fifth place by completing the race in one hour 23 minutes 08 seconds. They received cash prizes of Rs 150,000, Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Earlier, the marathon, which started from the Pokhara Stadium, was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel.
