Kipsang Rotich Wins In São Paulo
He became the first Kenyan to prevail since 2009.
He became the first Kenyan to prevail since 2009.
New Years Eve was a good day to be a Kenyan–especially in Brazil. At the 88th edition of the Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre, one of the oldest road races in the world, Edwin Kipsang Rotich was the first man to break the tape.
Kipsang Rotich clocked a blazing 44 minutes and five seconds for the 15K race.
The 24-year-old Kenyan is no stranger to the South American road-racing circuit as he spent most of 2012 competing there.
Last September, he won a 10K race in Curitiba and then prevailed again at that distance in November in Rio de Janeiro.
“it was a tough race, with plenty of hills, which are not my forte; I was able to set a strong pace and to put on a strong finish, where I won the event,” he said afterwards. Kipsang Rotich became the first Kenyan to win the annual event since 2009.
Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Maurine Jelagat Kipchumba came in first in 51:42.
Jackline Juma Sakilu of Tanzania was second, while Rumokol Chepkanan of Kenya was third.
For More: IAAF