Kenyan Mutiso dominated the Prague International Marathon, setting a course record! The fastest Czech was Pavlišta
The winner of this year's Prague Marathon was Kenyan Alexander Mutiso, who also broke the course record with a time of 2:05:09! The second place was taken by Ethiopian Sisay Lemma and the third place over the line was the Kenyan Philemon Rono. "I am very happy to have broken the course record. That was my goal. But the last kilometers were difficult," said Mutiso, who was part of the CEZ Group team in the Battle of the Teams. In the women’s elite race, Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa took the title, with a time of 2:20:42. Vít Pavlišta won his fourth domestic title, running under two hours and twenty minutes. The fastest Czech female honor went to Moira Stewart but did not hit the World Championship qualifying standard with her 2:31:52.
This year, compared to previous years, the race started from Wenceslas Square, more than seven thousand runners starting the race from Na Příkopě Street. The crowds were strong on both sides of the famous Charles Bridge. For the third time, the famous marathon was graced by the ‘Battle of the Teams’ , which involved five teams, Generali Česká pojišt'ovna, Skupina ČEZ, Mattoni, Prague Airport and Rohlik.cz.
Before the 25th kilometer, a trio broke away from the rest of the elite field: Sisay Lemma, Alexander Mutiso and the Kenyan peacemaker Stephen Kiprop. The latter step aside from the favored pair after completing his pacing duties at the 30th kilometer mark. At the 35th kilometer, the leading duo had almost fifty seconds on the chase group behind. Around kilometer 38, Kenya's Mutiso broke away from his rival and then only increased his lead. "It was my strategy because I wanted to run alone to the finish. I'm not strong in those final sprints where anything can happen. I'm glad it worked out," said Mutiso, who ran 2:03:29 on his debut in Valencia last year.
This year, Mutiso in winning by a margin of 1 minute 17 seconds, beat his compatriot Eliud Kiptanui’s course record, previously held at 2:05:39 from the 2010 Prague Marathon. Ethiopia's Workenesh Edesa also targeted the current course record, aiming to run under two hours and nineteen minutes. "The conditions and weather were great, the run was also fine. It's just that after the second half my left side started to sting, then it was complicated," described Workenesh from the Mattoni team. The winning time was just short of a new record, but the champion did enjoy a margin of 3 minutes and 10 seconds back the runner-up Margaret Wangari of Kenyan.
Stewart has the Czech title
Vít Pavlišta won the home title after a great performance, finishing in 2:19:14. Moira Stewart won the Czech women's title, her first home marathon title.
The president started the race
The President of the Republic Petr Pavel also arrived at the start and officially started the 27th edition of the Prague International Marathon. He lasted until the final run through the entire crowd. "Everyone who stood at the start has a huge respect for me. Sports events of this kind are a huge opportunity to show our country to the world in the best light," said President Pavel.
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