Kenyan Too wins Dublin City Marathon, Cibanu takes Irish title
Kenya’s Eliud Too claimed this year’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in blustery conditions this morning.
The 31-year-old Kenyan steeplechase champion, taking part in his second marathon, took the tape in two hours 14 minutes and 47 seconds, nine clear of countryman Paul Koech Kimutai.
“The course was very tough and it was very windy, we were in a block with about six guys until about 25 kilometres. I decided to break away at 25 kilometres” Too said afterwards.
Defending women’s champion Maria McCambridge took the silver medal just four seconds behind race winner Kenya’s Esteher Macharia.
Dundrum South Dublin athlete McCambridge made a surprise move for home just after half way and got into a battle with eventual race winner Kenya’s Ester Macharia.
McCambridge took over 60 seconds off her personal best, but it wasn’t enough as 27-year-old Macharia held out in a spring to the line.
“It’s a happy disappointment” admitted McCambridge afterwards. “On the last mile I just said to myself give it everything, I closed my eyes and headed for home.”
“The wind was so bad I could hardly see correctly, it was blowing my contacts back” joked McCambridge.
“I just thought drive hard, because (Macharia) won’t know about the back part of the course, but she battled hard and was a good winner.”
“I’m in the best shape I’ve been in and I knew I could mix it at international level” admitted 42 year old McCambridge afterwards.
Moldovan international Sergiu Ciobanu who competes for Dublin club Clonliffe Harreirs took the Irish title finishing fifth overall in 2:21:01.
Ciobanu, who is awaiting the formalities of Irish citizenship finished over 100 seconds clear of Athlone man Barry Minnock with Rathfarnham club mate Eoin Flynn taking bronze.
McCambridge took the Irish title with Tullamore’s 2008 Olympian Pauline Curley taking bronze and Dublin athlete Ailish Malone taking bronze.
Over 14,000 people from 47 countries were taking part in today's race, the 35th running of the event.
1.Eliud Too – Kenya – 2:14:47
2.Paul Koech Kimutai – Kenya - 2:14:56
3.Dmitry Safonov – Russia – 2:15:12
1. Segiu Ciobanu – Clonliffe Harriers – 2:21:01
2. Barrry Minnock – Rathfarnham WSAF – 2:22:42
3. Eoin Flynn – Rathfarnham WSAF – 2:25:25
1.Ester Macharia – Kenya – 2:34:15
2. Maria McCambridge – Ireland – 3:34:19
3.Meseret Godana – Ethopia – 2:38:53
1. Maria McCambridge – Dundrum South Dublin – 2:34:19
2. Pauline Curley – Tullamore – 2:48:02
3. Ailish Malone – Clonliffe Harriers - 2:48:48
