TOKYO: Dennis Kimetto clocked a race record time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 50 seconds yesterday to lead a Kenyan sweep of the podium at the Tokyo Marathon.

Kimetto won his first marathon in only the second start of his career while taking 33 seconds off the previous record set by Viktor Rothlin of Switzerland in 2008. Last year’s winner Michael Kipyego finished eight seconds behind Kimetto while Bernard Kipyego took third place in 2:07:53.

The 29-year-old Kimetto, who was runner-up in his debut at Berlin last year, held a narrow lead over Kipyego over the last 10 kilometers before pulling away.

“I was pretty sure of winning the race after 35 kilometers so I just tried to keep my pace,” Kimetto said.

Japan’s Kazuhiro Maeda had the best result for the host country, finishing fourth in 2:08:00.

Ethiopia’s Aberu Kebede won the women’s race in 2:25:34. Yeshi Esayias, also of Ethiopia, finished second almost 30 seconds back with Irina Mikitenko of Germany, the World Marathon Majors champion in 2008 and 2009, taking third 2:26:41.

The Tokyo race was making its debut as a World Marathon Majors race joining Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

Kenya’s Maisei third time lucky

in Hong Kong marathon

Meantime, Julius Maisei learned his lesson from two failed early breaks to time it just right at the third time of asking and win the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon yesterday.

The 32-year-old took the IAAF Silver Label race in a time of two hours, 14 minutes and 18 seconds ahead of compatriot James Mbugua (2:14:28) and Ethiopia’s Deribe Robi in third (2:14:37).

“I made the mistake of making my move too early in the last two years and my opponents caught me and overtook me,” Maisei told reporters.

“This time I changed my tactics and made certain I timed my break better and then went all for it.”

Maisei blamed the slow time on the tricky conditions.

“It was tough out there. It is not easy running inside a tunnel for almost three kilometers and the course is very hilly. Hong Kong is a hard race,” he said.

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Misiker Demissie became the first athlete to retain the title as she romped home in 2:30:49.

“It was a bit more windy than last year, which is probably the reason I went a bit slower, although I like racing in those conditions, it was good,” she told reporters.

The event also featured a 10 kilometer race which was completed by 101-year-old Indian-born Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, who retired from running after clocking a time of 1:32:28.