Ronald Kimeli and Gladys Chemutai triumph at Stanchart Nairobi Marathon

Ronald Kimeli Kurgat and Gladys Chemutai won the 2024 Stanchart Nairobi Marathon on Sunday, 27 October, delivering impressive performances in the full marathon. Kimeli claimed victory in the men’s category with a time of 2:13:05, while Chemutai finished the women’s race in 2:31:52.

The men’s race was particularly fierce, with Dominic Kipkirui finishing a close second in 2:13:13, just eight seconds behind Kimeli. Peter Kwemoi secured third place with a time of 2:13:14. After the race, Kimeli expressed surprise at his win, crediting his final sprint and the encouragement from his teammates. “It was not easy; we pushed ourselves until the last kilometer, and I gave it my all. I wasn’t expecting to win, but I’m grateful to God for the strength,” he said.

In the women’s race, Chemutai was followed by Caroline Koech, who completed the marathon in 2:35:00, and Joy Kemuma, who finished third in 2:36:06. Chemutai, a seasoned marathon runner, shared her gratitude for her hard-earned victory, stating, “This is my third time racing here, and I didn’t expect to win—last year, I finished fifth. I put in the work, and I’m glad I kept my promise to win.”

In the half marathon, Vincent Mutai overcame early challenges, including vomiting twice, to win with a time of 1:03:27. Keyborn Obato and Silas Chepkwony followed closely behind, finishing in 1:03:34 and 1:03:51, respectively. Mutai noted the favorable weather and his preparation as key factors in his win, adding, “Now, I’ll focus on cross-country races.”

Caroline Olbara won the women’s half marathon in 1:11:06, with Gladys Koech and Esther Chemutai finishing second and third, respectively, in 1:12:10 and 1:12:12.

In the men’s wheelchair race, John Wambua showcased his determination by finishing first in 1:29:01. Milton Ilahuya and Caleb Henry took second and third place with times of 1:34:56 and 1:37:59. Wambua expressed his hopes for future international marathons, saying, “I’m glad to have won. This proves I’m ready for international marathons.”

The marathon featured a total prize pool of Ksh12.9 million, with winners in the 42km race receiving Ksh2 million, Ksh1 million, and Ksh500,000 for second and third places, respectively.