VIENNA — Albert Korir edged fellow Kenyan runner Ishmael Bushendich by two seconds to win the Vienna City Marathon in chilly and windy conditions on Sunday.
The pair entered the final kilometre shoulder to shoulder before the 23-year-old Korir accelerated and set a personal best of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 40 seconds for his first career marathon victory.
Ezekiel Omullo finished 30 seconds behind in third to complete a Kenyan sweep of the podium.
"It was a great race, very challenging," Korir said. "(Bushendich) was very strong so I just tried to do my best. I had ups and downs in training but I had to overcome them."
Nancy Kiprop won the women’s race in 2:24:20, a personal best for the 37-year-old Kenyan. It was the second fastest time in the history of the event after Maura Viceconte of Italy triumphed in 2:23:47 in 2000.
Rebecca Chesire of Kenya lost touch with Kiprop on the final kilometre and came five seconds back in second, and Roza Dereje of Ethiopia trailed by 57 seconds in third. Last year’s winner, Shuko Genemo of Ethiopia, finished 1:46 behind Kiprop in fourth.
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