Kenyan double in Roma-Ostia, Granollers titles slip
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 02.03.25. | 21:20
Paris Olympian Maayouf became the first local woman to win La Mitja Granollers since 2019 when Miriam Ortiz did
Kenya's Gideon Rop and Ludwina Chepngetich are the winners of this year's RomaOstia Half Marathon in its 50th edition on Sunday, 2 March.
Rop timed 58:49 to record the third fastest time ever in this race, finishing ahead of compatriot Cosmas Boi , also under the hour with 59:27.
Meanwhile, third place was decided in a sprint finish with Moroccan Soufiyan Bouqantar clocking 60:37 to deny Bayelign Teshager (60:41), a place on the podium.
The best Italian was Ahmed Ouhda , with a personal best of 63:32.
In the women's race, Chepngetich ran the last six kilometres solo, going on to win in 68:20, leading a Kenyan 1-2 as Monica Chebet settled for silver in 69:07.
The podium was completed by the Italian Isabella Caposieno, in her third appearance over the distance. She finished in 1:16:45.
Elsewhere, Mikiyas Barega, from Ethiopia, and Spanish athlete Majida Maayouf clocked personal bests (PB) to win the 39th edition of the La Mitja Granollers-les Franqueses-la Garriga. Barega clocked 61:19 while Maayouf came home in 69:12.
The men's race saw Albert Rop from Bahrain, Kenya's Amon Kiptoo and Barega announce themselves as favourites early on in the race.
Rop was the strongest of the trio with Barega the only one keeping up when the Kenyan-born Bahraini stepped up the pace.
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With about four kilometers to run, Barega overtook Rop for the win, missing a sub-60 time by over a minute.
Top came home in 61:40 while Kiptoo timed 63:05 to complete the medal places.
"I am very happy to have achieved my personal best, which I think was helped by this very special route, with its ups and downs," said Barega at the end of the race.
In the women's race, Paris Olympian Maayouf was the clear winner, in 69:12 becoming the first local woman to win the race since 2019 when Miriam Ortiz did.
Kenya's Aurelia Jerotich was second in 1:10: 20 seconds with Tekan Amere third in 1:12:37.
"I wanted to see how I was facing the European Championship and I looked good. Unfortunately the wind was strong and I couldn't get close to the Spanish record. That said, I did my best. If it had been a race without wind, I think I could have set the record," Maayouf offered.
