NAIROBI — Newly-crowned New York Marathon champion Benson Kipruto joked that he deserves a particular award for clinching his third main race on American soil.
The 34-year-old famous that he has developed a novel reference to the USA and due to this fact ought to be rewarded with a three-star medals for his enormous success within the nation.
“I am so pleased to have my fourth win within the World Marathon Majors. That is my third win in America and I am so pleased. I feel I want now a three-star from the American main marathon,” the Olympics bronze medalist stated.
Kipruto’s earlier victories in America embrace the Boston Marathon (2:09:51) in 2021 and the Chicago Marathon in 2022 (2:04:24).
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On Sunday, he led a podium sweep for Kenya within the Massive Apple, clocking 2:08:09 to chop the tape forward of Alexander Mutiso, who additionally ran 2:08:09 in what was a photograph end.
The 2021 New York champion Albert Korir got here third in 2:08:57.
It was a dash end for which Kipruto couldn’t sit simple, with Mutiso charging furiously behind him within the final 800m in a mad sprint to the end line.
Each runners raised their arms in victory as they crossed their end line nevertheless it was Kipruto who had executed simply sufficient to take the highest podium place on the race.
The 2024 Tokyo Marathon champion paid homage to his fellow Kenyan as a tough opponent to shrug off.
“Sure, I used to be conscious that he was behind and so shut. I do know Mutiso is a powerful man and I have been working with him additionally in Paris (Olympics). So I knew it was going to be a good race. However I by no means misplaced hope as much as the final levels of the race,” Kipruto stated.
Sunday’s win was an ideal approach for Kipruto to bounce again from a disappointing yr to this point, through which he has fallen in need of victory in his two competitions.
His first race was on the Tokyo Marathon in March the place he clocked 2:05:46 to complete seventh earlier than coming third on the Bogota Half Marathon in Colombia – timing 1:03:41.