Newly-crowned Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto is the early pacesetter for the World Marathon Majors which attracts a prize of over Ksh7 million.
Newly-crowned Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto has taken an early lead in a bid to succeed the late Kelvin Kiptum as the winner of the 2024 World Marathon Majors prize.
The World Marathon Majors is reserved for runners who perform exemplarily in six major marathons; Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York where they accumulate points, and whoever has more at the end of the season is awarded the prize.
In Olympics, like 2024, and World Championships years, the events also count towards the prize with winners in the men’s and women’s categories awarded $50,000 (Ksh7.1 million) each at the end of the campaign.
11:32 - 03.03.2024
ATHLETICS Benson Kipruto expresses surprise after breaking Eliud Kipchoge’s Tokyo Marathon course record
Benson Kipruto has expressed joy and surprise at breaking the Tokyo Marathon course record.
Following his win at the Tokyo Marathon last Sunday, Kipruto has taken early leadership with the maximum 25 points, followed by compatriots Timothy Kiplangat with 16 while Vincent Ngetich has nine points following their second and third-place finishes in the Japanese capital.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru is second on the leaderboard with 16 points after her runners up spot in Tokyo with race winner Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia leading with 25 points while her compatriot Amane Beriso has nine.
Kipruto will be keeping tabs on the next events as he plots his next race to ensure he remains at the summit or keep pace with his competitors throughout the season.
06:33 - 04.03.2024
ATHLETICS The modest sum Eliud Kipchoge will earn after his 10th place finish at Tokyo Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge’s 10th place finish at the Tokyo Marathon also proved costly financially as he will have to contend with a rare low amount having bagged the big bucks previously.
Boston Marathon is up next on Monday 15 April where two-time defending champion Evans Chebet of Kenya is the man to watch as he seeks to make history as the first to win it thrice consecutively while defending champion Hellen Obiri and 2023 Valencia winner Worknesh Degefaafter, headline the women’s filed, after which London Marathon will take centre stage six days later.
Two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, reigning New York Marathon champion Tamirat Tola, and 2023 Valencia Marathon runners-up Alexander Mutiso are some of the top men heading to London while three of the top four fastest women in history have been confirmed.
They include world marathon record holder Tigst Assefa, previous holder Brigid Kosgei, Ruth Chepng’etich, the fourth-fastest woman of all time (2:14:18), Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia).
18:25 - 06.03.2024
ATHLETICS Eyes on medals as Athletics Kenya selects formidable team for African Games
Athletics Kenya has selected a formidable team for the African Games after the culmination of a two-day national trials held at the Nyayo National Stadium.
That will give way to the Paris Olympics before the Berlin Marathon in September followed by Chicago and New York in October and November respectively.
Kiptum won last year’s prize after managing 50 points from his wins in London and Chicago while Obiri missed out to Sifan Hassan after both tied on 50 points but the Dutchwoman trumped her for setting the second fastest time in history of 2:13:44.
The cash prizes are not just restricted to the winners as second, third, fourth, and fifth places attract $25,000 (Ksh3,575,000), $12,500 (Ksh1,787,500), $7,500 (Ksh1,072,500) and $5,000 (Ksh715,000) respectively.
15:00 - 08.11.2023
ATHLETICS Vote denies Hellen Obiri Ksh7.5m World Marathon Majors prize
Hellen Obiri would have pocketed an extra Ksh7.5 million after finishing joint top at the World Marathon Majors leaderboard but had to walk home with the consolation prize instead
Kipruto will be seeking another marathon win later in the year to improve on his third place of last year.
Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.