L. MathekaDominic Ondoro wins Houston marathon
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 16.01.23. | 12:11
Wesley Kiptoo finished second in the half marathon men's race.
Kenya’s Dominic Ondoro withstood stiff competition from Ethiopia’s Tsedat Ayana in the closest Houston finish since 1996, to win this year’s Houston Marathon men’s race held on Sunday 15 January in 2:10.36, less than a second ahead of the runners-up.
The 34-year-old Kenyan out-leaned Ayana to claim victory as another Ethiopian-born American Teshome Mekonen completed the podium places in 2:11.05.
“All of HOU are World Champions” was the message shared by Paula Harris, Executive Director of The Houston @astros Foundation at the start line!
— Houston Marathon (@HoustonMarathon) January 15, 2023
We couldn’t agree more! https://t.co/FYDkmfA2Kr
Ondoro passed the 5km mark in 15:13 and was through 10km in 30:28 having slowed down by only two seconds. At the halfway mark, both Ondoro and Ayana were on 4:58 pace going through in 1:04.31 with Mekonen nine seconds behind.
Nothing could separate the two until the finish line where the Kenyan won by the skin of his teeth to add a second title to his 2017 victory.
We also say a huge congratulations to Dominic Ondoro on his own dramatic marathon win in Houston. 🤯
— adidas Running (@adidasrunning) January 15, 2023
👟 Adizero Adios Pro pic.twitter.com/v5kJS092UP
The women’s race saw another impressive run with Hitomi Niiya of Japan winning in 2:19:24, more than six minutes ahead of the runner-up Muliye Dekeb (2:25.35) and Ethiopian compatriot Sintayehu Lewetegn (2:26.3).
In the half marathon, Leul Gebresilase clocked 1:00:34 to win the men’s race ahead of Kenya’s Wesley Kiptoo who finished second in 1:00:35 as Morocco’s Mohamed El Araby came third in 1:00:58.
After pulling away from the chase pack together with a few miles remaining, Gebresilase and Kiptoo battled down to the wire. The East African competitors fought through the homestretch, where Kiptoo kept looking back to assess the distance between himself and his rival, until the Ethiopian sprinted ahead at the last second to claim the victory.
Great duel down the home straight in Houston. Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia nips Wesley Kiptoo of Kenya at the finish line, 60:34 to 60:35.
— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) January 15, 2023
Kiptoo, the 2021 NCAA indoor 5k champ at Iowa State, took 51 secs off his pb in his second half marathon. pic.twitter.com/UIFa4lc7ui
His win follows a breakthrough season, which included a runner-up finish at the 2022 London Marathon in October.
Hiwot Gebremaryam took the women's race in 1:06:28. Emily Sisson shattered her own American record in the half marathon by finishing in 1:06:52 for second place. She is now the first American woman to break the 1:07 barrier.
Leading Results Men Marathon
1. Dominic Ondoro (KEN) - 2:10:36
2. Tsedat Ayana (ETH) - 2:10:37
3. Teshome Mekonen (USA) - 2:11:05
4. Parker Stinson (USA) - 2:12:11
5. Tyler Pennl (USA) - 2:12:16
6. Kenta Uchida (JPN) 2:14:13
7. James Ngandu (KEN) - 2:14:28
8. Alvaro Aberu (DOM) - 2:14:28
9. Kevin Salvano (USA) - 2:16:39
10. Tyler Pence (USA) - 2:16:44
Leading Results Women Marathon
1. Hitomi Niiya (JPN) - 2:19:24
2. Muliye Dekeb Haylemariyam (ETH) - 2:25:35
3. Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH) - 2:26:33
4. Tristin van Ord (USA) - 2:27:07
5. Kinsey Middleton (USA) - 2:29:22
6. Maegan Krifchin (USA) - 2:30:16
7. Andrea Pomarinski (USA) - 2:31:06
8. Beverly Ramos (PRI) - 2:32:31
9. Molly Bookmyer (USA) - 2:32:31
10. Kathy Vandehy (USA) - 2:32:31
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