Young children participating in the fifth edition of the Ooredoo Marathon yesterday on the Doha Corniche. Pic: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
The pounding steps of hundreds of trainer-clad feet echoed as a roar of runners took to the Doha Corniche for the annual Ooredoo Marathon yesterday morning.
The Corniche road was temporarily closed for five hours to give way to the much anticipated marathon which attracts a huge number of runners every year, some of whom comprise groups representing various local companies.
In its fifth edition, the marathon witnessed the participation of around 1,650 amateur and professional runners as well as enthusiasts from various categories based on age and gender.
This year’s marathon featured courses for all abilities of runners including full marathon (42km), half-marathon (21km), 10km run, 5km run, 3km run and special children’s 1km fun run. The event kicked off at 6.30am with the course running from the Museum of Islamic Art Park to the Sheraton Doha Park.
The much coveted full marathon category was dominated by Kenyan runners with 36-year-old Henry Kiplagat clinching the top spot. With a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 5 seconds, Kiplagat beat last year’s record of compatriot Amos Maindi by more than four minutes. This was the first time Kiplagat won a full marathon in his career which spans over a decade, he told the media after his victorious finish.
“I’m so happy. I had some tough competitors,” Kiplagat said, attributing his win on his early preparations, nice route and the pleasant weather.
“I had early preparations which started in September. The route was nice as well as the weather because normally Doha is very hot,” he said.
Yesterday marked his third time to compete in 42km marathon, the first was in Amsterdam but it was his second time to take part in Ooredoo Marathon, he said.
“I was here in 2015, but I competed in half marathon and finished second,” he said, stressing his eagerness to stage a comeback next year.
Second to Kiplagat was Benard Kipsang Chumba, also from Kenya, who missed to win first place by merely 3 seconds. He was followed by fellow Kenyan Henry Kipsang.
Another Kenyan Alex Kibet won the half marathon with a time of 1:01:52 beating last year’s winner Benard Korir by only 2 seconds. Korir, however, beat his last year’s record of 1:07:25.
Georgina Rono from Kenya (42km female), Violah Jepchumba (21km female), Alsadik Mikhou (10km male) and Eilish McColgan (10km female were among the other winners. Prizes were awarded to the winners in various categories at the end of the exciting competition.
The marathon is an annual event designed to encourage more people to get involved in sport and to raise money for worthy causes. Ooredoo said that 100% of this year’s registration fees will be donated to Reach Out To Asia.
