Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

2017 Boston marathon champions, Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat celebrate with local Kenyan community fans at the Fairmont Copley Hotel soon after the Award ceremony last night. AJABU MEDIA PIC

By:

HARRISON MAINA

Posted:

Apr,22-2017 11:06:17

(April 18, 2017) BOSTON__They did it! Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat, two Kenyans competing at the Boston marathon race for the first time won their respective male and female division titles sending Kenyan fans in Boston and in the motherland overjoyed with excitement, especially after a 5 year drought for men since Wilson Korir won back in 2012.

Kirui blasted across the finish line with a time of 2:09:37, 22 seconds ahead of an unexpected challenge from USA's Gallen Rupp while Edna Kiplagat edged Rose Chelimo, a Kenyan born now for Bahrain, her country of Citizenship with a time of 2.21:52 to Chelimo's 2:22:52.

One more Kenya male runner, Wilson Chebet finished 5th behind USA's Kenyan born Shadrack Biwott to firmly put Kenyans back to their familiar position as the most dominant Boston marathon runners for over two decades.

Surprisingly, there were five American runners finishing in the top ten positions in the men's race and one in the women's race where Jordan Hasay took the third position behind the Kenyans.

Even more surprising was the under-performance by the usually competitive Ethiopians since only one runner, Dino Sefir finished 8th in the men's race while only two, Buzunesh Deba and Ruti Aga clocked in 7th and 10th respectively in the women's division.

And for the first time ever, a Burundi national made it to the top 10 when Diane Nukuru finished 9th in the women's division. Two DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) nationals that Ajabu Africa spotted with their national flag said that they had come to support a countryman who was competing at Boston for the first time ever.

"I am very happy with this win. It was my first time to run in Boston and I was very happy I won," said Kirui during an interview with Ajabu Africa News.

He added that he was looking forward to coming back to Boston to defend the title.

"God willing, I will be back next year to compete again," he said.

Equally ecstatic was Edna Kiplagat after taking the Boston Marathon with a storm to add to her already long list of impressive wins. The mother of 5 was the 2010 New York marathon champion, 2015 and 2015 London marathon champion, 2016 Chicago marathon runners up, 2013 World Athletics Championship winner and many more.

"I feel very happy to win in Boston during my first time here. Boston marathon is very popular and it feels very good to win."

Flanked by her two younger children, Kiplagat told Ajabu Africa news that she was very happy to see Kenyan fans come to support the runners before the race and come to cheer during the race. She said the experience motivated her to work harder so as not to disappoint the fans and her family.

"I did not expect to see Kenyans here but I was very happy when they came to the hotel to talk with us. I give thanks to God for helping me win today and made them happy. I hope next time we can meet more Kenyans and their children here in Boston," said the mother whose husband was unable to secure a visa to accompany her, according to media reports.

Contrary to the tradition, where Kenyans fans hardly attract attention from local Boston media, fans at the finish line who were donning Kenyan flags and in Kenyan colors instantly became a center of attraction with many media outlets, including Boston's popular radio WBUR, an affiliate of NPR (National Public Radio) dedicating the entire time it took to finish the race interviewing Kenyans.

Die hard fans regretted that the population of Kenyans in the region who used to attend the marathon in the past succumbed to fear and abandoned their patriotic duty of supporting the runners who bring so much glory to their country since 2013 Boston marathon bomb.

"The guys who did not show up here today have missed a lot of fun. This was a fantastic day. There was no threat at all from terrorist attack. The security is now very tight and Kenyan fans should consider coming back next year," said Dr. Peter Ngige, a Kenyan pharmacist who had a trip from Lowell to cheer the runners.

"It was a very enjoyable and fun day for us. We came out to cheer and support our runners just like the Americans are all over the place to support their own.There is no need fr Kenyan fans to fear coming back here. I saw a lot of Americans with young children who came out to cheer and have a good time," said Caroline Kimani, a young Kenyan from Boston.

According to the Boston Athletics Association, the 2017 Boston marathon (121st edition) attracted 30,074 runners of who 27,221 started the race with 26,411 finishing.

In addition, many Americans usually compete at the Boston marathon to raise funds in support various charitable organizations with over $100 million generated by the 2017 edition.