Kenyan Wanjiru, Ethiopian Degefa win Prague half marathon

Kenyan runner Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru and Ethiopian Worknesh Degefa won the men's and women's competition respectively at the Prague half marathon on Saturday.

Wanjiru clocked 59 minutes 51 seconds and Degefa finished in 1:07:14.

The biggest favorite of men's race, Kenyan Leonard Komon, was six seconds behind Wanjiru in the third place. Another Kenyan runner Wilfred Murgor Kipkosgei took the second place.

Wanjiru said it was a very tough race, there were a big group when they have runned 15 kilometers and he began to accelerate at that time, managing to get rid of the others. He received a prize of 4,000 euros (4,400 US dollars).

Degefa improved her personal best record, but it was not easy. She said it was a tough race for her, not only because the rivals, but also because of the weather which changed a lot and sometimes windy. Moreover, the cobblestones road bothered her, or she could be even better.

12,500 runners from 81 countries took part in the race.

Following are the results:

Men:

1. Kinyua Wanjiru 59:51

2. Murgor 59:57

3. Komon 59:57

4. Kipchirchir Bor 1:00:09 (all Kenya)

5. Takele (Ethiopia) 1:00:26

6. Mesel (Eritrea) 1:00:26.

Women:

1. Degefa 1:07:14

2. Melese 1:08:21 (both Ethiopia)

3. Nukuri (Burundi) 1:09:33

4. Yelagat (Kenya) 1:09:42

5. Godfay (Ethiopia) 1:09:51

6. Kabuu (Kenya) 1:10:25.

Endi