Kenyan runner narrowly misses Sabastian Sawe's record in Latvia
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 17.05.26. | 20:06
Meanwhile in the women's race, Sharon Lokedi was missing after withdrawing from the event
Kenyan runner Charles Mbatha Matata on Sunday, 17 May narrowly missed world marathon record holder Sabastian Sawe’s course record, this after winning and leading a Kenyan podium sweep at the Rimi Riga Half marathon in Latvia.
Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news
Mbatha, running his second race of the year, was victorious in the men’s race, clocking 59:15, which was just five seconds shy of Sawe’s record time of 59:10, set during his gold-medal winning heroics at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in 2023.
The 28-year-old will however take solace in his effort, which gave him his new personal best in the distance, going over the 1:00.01 he timed earlier this year in Istanbul.
In taking his first win of the year, Matata was also at hand to lead an all-Kenyan top three finish, with compatriots James Kipkogei and Benson Tunyo Murkomen clocking 59:50 and 1:00.29 to take silver and bronze respectively.
As if that was not enough, another Kenyan, Alfred Kipchirchir Mukche, made sure all the top four positions went for his country, just missing out on the podium in a time of 1:00:31.
Elsewhere in the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye claimed a big win, which saw her set a new course record.
©Rimi Riga MarathonThe 23-year-old, who won 10,000m bronze at the 2023 World Championships, clocked a sensational 1:04.22, shattering Judy Kemboi’s previous record of 1:07:13 set in 2024 by nearly three minutes.
In second place was Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, who timed 1:06.01, with her compatriot Stella Chesang claiming bronze in 1:08.15.
Missing from the women’s lineup, however, was Sharon Lokedi, who is reported to have withdrawn “as she has not had time to fully recover from her victory in Boston.”
Lokedi, who Mozzart Sport reported was on course to making her debut in London, defended her Boston Marathon title on Monday, 20 April.
The 32-year-old will now hope to be in better shape, as she duels up with Chepkirui at the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run on Sunday, 31 May.
