Kenyan Runners Sweep Boston Marathon as Diaspora Fans Conquer streets
Kenyans from various cities in Massachusetts lift up Titus Mutinda a.k.a Tito , a Kenyan man from Lowell, Mass. who took the 3rd trophy in the mens masters category at the 115th Boston marathon yesterday.
The Kenyans then held a celebratory party at the Vlora Mediterranean restaurant on Boylston street organized by Ajabu Media where local Diaspora runners were praised and recognized. The fans and runners later attended the the official awards ceremony by Boston Athletics Association at the Fairmont Copley Hotel .Pic by H.Maina/Ajabu Media
By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, posted April 19, 2011- updated 4/20/11- 1pm
BOSTON, Mass._ Buoyed by the a humorous pep talk delivered live by the Kenyan prime minister, Hon. Raila Odinga, and community prayers at the st.Stephens church in Lowell, Kenyan marathon runners fired up all their guns to sweep both the elite men and women races at the 115h Boston Marathon, breaking all existing records in the process.
At the same time, equally fired up Kenyan Diaspora fans branded Boylston Street near the finish line with Kenyan colors amidst songs and dances, planting a flag on the entrance to the Vlora Restaurant where they held a celebration party.
Registering the fastest time ever recorded by a marathon runner in world history, 29-year old Geoffrey Mutai from Eldoret , Kenya, and countryman, Moses Mosop, stunned race organizers and fellow athletes when they both broke the long standing record held by legendary Ethiopian runner, Haile Gebrselassie.
Mutai shaved off almost a full minute off Gebrselassie's record set at Berlin, Germany in 2008 when he finished 2.03.02 against the Ethiopians sanctioned World record at 2:03.59 set in Berlin, Germany in 2008 while cheered on by ecstatic fans that included dozens of Kenyan living in Boston and other states.
To add icing to the cake, second placed countryman, countryman Moses Mosop from Iten, also broke the Ethiopian’s long standing record, and become the fastest runner to finish a marathon on his first attempt when he blasted across the finish line merely 4 seconds after Mutai at 2.03.06.
However, although the records were recognized by the Boston Athletic Association as course records, they were not immediately recognized by the International Athletics association (IAA) as world records due to concerns that strong tail winds from Hopkinton to Boston assisted the runners who took full advantage of perfect marathon running conditions.
Due to his unbelievable feat, the Kenyan champion left Boston way richer than he came. Mutai will receive a total of $225,000, which includes $150,000 for winning the race, an extra $50,000 for getting a new world’s best time ever, and a further $25,000 for setting a new Boston course record.
Ethiopia’s Gebremariam Gebregziabher finished a distant 3rd, also breaking the existing Boston marathon record set by Kenya’s defending champion, Robert K. Cheruiyot from Bomet when he finished at 2.04.53.
Kenyan record bursting champions, Geoffrey Mutai and Moses Mosop shuttling down Boylston street in full throttle towards a memorable finish at the Boston Marathon on Monday
Disappointment on Ethiopian fans living in Boston quickly turned into excitement as they started cheering the relentless Kenyans on, waving Kenyan flags in an act of good neighborliness as the two countries as good neighbors.
Not to be left behind, USA’s enigmatic Ryan Hall, an ever present threat to the African runners from Mammoth Lakes, California also broke the Cheruiyot’s record set last year in Boston, finishing fourth at 2.04.58 as he contended with the never say never die Kenyans eager to place the bar a notch higher for any runners threatening their dominance.
Adding insult to injury in the hearts of Ethiopian fans, Kenya’s Caroline Kilel took the women’s title in style after out sprinting United States runner, Desiree Davila from Rochester Hills, Michigan to break the tape with an impressive time of 2.22.36, barely 2 seconds before the American came through at 2.22.38.
Last year Ethiopia’s Teyba Erkesso won the women’s elite title but did not return to Boston this year to defend the title.
Two more Kenyan women stamped Kenya’s dominance of the race when Sharon Cherop from Marakwet clocked in third, followed closely by Caroline Rotich from Nyahururu.
USA’s Kara Goucher from Portland, Oregon was fifth, edging out the best placed Ethiopian, Dire Tune.
Tune was followed by fellow Ethiopian Werknesh Kidane from Axum as Alice Timbilili; another Kenyan from Moiben closed the top ten women finishers, with a total of four Kenyans in the books.
Hellen Mugo, another Kenyan female runner from Nyeri clocked in at number 13.
Hopes for a comeback by the four-time Boston Marathon champion, Catherine Ndereva were dashed when the celebrated mother of one dropped off the race from muscle problems after the Heart Break Hill climb. In total, 8 Kenyan women took part in this year’s marathon.
However it was the men’s race that provided the most drama of the day when 5 out of 10 elite male entrants finished in the top ten positions, with 3 more closing the deal at number 11 and 13 respectively.
Elite women runners from Kenya, Caroline Kilel , Alice Timbilili and Sharon Cherop (partly hidden) battle it out with Desiree Davila of the USA and Dire Tune of Ethiopia towards the finish line at the 115th Boston Marathon.Kilel broke from the pack to win the race in a photo finish matchup with the American.Photo courtesy of AP
Defending champion, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot failed to defend the title and record he set in Boston last year when he finished 6th yesterday at 2.06.43. But being the defending champion and race record holder, Cheruiyot was cheered loudly by both Kenyan and American fans present.
He was followed closely by compatriot, Philip Kimutai Sanga of Kapsabet at number 7.
Robert Kipchumba from Marakwet finished the race in the 10th position, while Peter Kamais from Eldoret was number 11 and Gilbert Yegon, also from Eldoret sealing the Kenya Elite men’s dominance in Boston at the 13th position.
In the master’s category, Kenyans in the Diaspora registered their thumb print as champions as well when Lowell resident, Titus Mutinda closed the finish line at 2.33.20, sending Kenyan Diaspora fans delirious with joy as they lifted him high on Boylston Street.
Another Diaspora Kenyan to finish the race, Joseph Koech was also mobbed by fans as he entered the Vlora Restaurant where Kenyans congregated for a marathon after party before advancing to the awards ceremony.
Both local runners were joined by 2 other local runners, Naomi Mugo Waiyaki and Benjamin Ndaya from Chelmsford, Mass. who was not in action on Monday, but who nevertheless led in cheering feverishly.
The masters division defensing champion, James Kosgei from Kenya, dropped off the race after developing complications toward the end of the race.
"It was a tough race.I developed a muscle cramp as soon as a came down Heartbreak Hill and from there i decided to run at a reduced speed to the finish line", said Joseph Koech during an interview with Ajabu Africa.
"A lot of runners including Catherine Dereva got similar problems", he added.
The master’s race is for runners of ages 40 and above.
Organized by Ajabu Media in partnership with the top rated restaurant in Boston, the party was attended by over 60 Kenyans from many areas in New England, Washington DC, Maryland, Las Vegas as well as visitors from Kenya, including 3 local pastors.
The large number of excited fans then snaked through the streets of Boston to the Fairmont Copley Plaza waving the Kenyan national flag while spotting Kenyan flag inspired attires.
As winners were called up to receive their trophies and a Kenyan after a Kenyan stepped up to receive theirs, cheers from the largest ever number of Kenyans to attend the official went a shrill higher than the already loud American fans cheering the champions.
A Kenyan man identified only as Njenga from the South shore of Boston romps into a marathon after- party the Vlora Meditarranean restaurant near the marathon finish line in style together with Joseph Koech, a local Kenyan marathon runner from Lowell who finished the race on monday (right) . Benjamin Ndaya (in red), another locally based marathon runner from Chelmsford attended the party as well .pic by H.Maina/Ajabu Media
However, groans were heard in the room when Titus Mutinda, the 3 placed winner in the 45-49 years category from Lowell did not step up to the podium to claim his trophy, prompting a Boston Globe photojournalist to ask Ajabu Media photojournalist, “Where is he? How can he miss this,” inquired the newsman from the Globe, surprised that several other winners from different countries were not present to receive their hard won trophies.
It was not immediately clear why Mutinda did not make it to the ceremony.
“Mimi ningependa Kuwashukuru wakenya wanaoishi hapa America Kwa kuja kusaurpport sisi leo. Ninasema asante sana na ninamshukuru mumgu kwa kunisaidia kushinda leo,” (Kiswahili for “I am very happy with Kenyans in America and our leaders for the support that they have given that has helped me win today. I also thank God for helping me win,” said Mutai as he was rushed through by his sports agents over excited with the ‘new world record’ set back to the Elite Athletes village, making it hard for Ajabu Media staff backed by several Kenyan fans to secure a full TV interview.
Mutai promised to come back next year to defend his title.
"I got a DNF", abbreviation for 'Did Not Finish", said Catherine Ndereva to Ajabu Africa News as she walked back to her hotel room with her documentary filmmaker trailing her. I hope to make it next year," she added.
Celebrated 4 time Boston marathon elite women's race winner, Catherine Ndereva ( in redshirt ) and Alice Cherono, a Kenyan blind runner (extreme right) together with fans at the Fairmont Copley Hotel after the awards ceremony
“This has been a life changing experience for me,”said Pastor Mweu who had traveled all the way from Baltimore Maryland for the event.
“We need to have more of such casual gatherings to celebrate our achievements since they will unite us more as Kenyans,” he added before preparing for the 8 hour drive back to Maryland.
By the end of the evening, both the Kenyans fans and athletes had caused enough scenes in the Boston streets, painting them red, green, black and white, while the national anthem was played and repeated multiple times, leaving no doubt that they were proud to be associated with multi-winning feats at the oldest and most popular marathon in the world, and intended to do so for the foreseeable future.
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