Jemima Sumgong Wins Kenya's First Marathon Gold, USA Puts Three In Top Ten
Photo: Jack Gruber - USA TODAY Sports
Article: Dennis Young
Article: Dennis Young
With a stellar last two miles, Jemima Sumgong became the first Kenyan woman ever to win the Olympic marathon. Eunice Kirwa of Bahrain and defending world champion Mare Dibaba started the move at 22 miles into the race, but Sumgong finished it. Sumgong ran 2:24:04, nine seconds ahead of Kirwa; Dibaba took bronze seventeen seconds behind Kirwa.
Earlier this year, Sumgong won the London Marathon.
Shalane Flanagan hung in the lead pack of six women for over two hours, but was felled by the move 2:03 into the race. She finished sixth in 2:25:26, an improvement of her tenth-place finish in London.
Behind Flanagan, her teammates Desi Linden and Amy Cragg were seventh and ninth. Linden ran a steadily-paced 2:26:08, while Cragg finished in 2:28:25 and outkicked a pair of North Koreans to squeeze into the top ten.
Only Ethiopia and Bahrain put two athletes in the top ten; no other country had three.
More to come.
Earlier this year, Sumgong won the London Marathon.
Shalane Flanagan hung in the lead pack of six women for over two hours, but was felled by the move 2:03 into the race. She finished sixth in 2:25:26, an improvement of her tenth-place finish in London.
Behind Flanagan, her teammates Desi Linden and Amy Cragg were seventh and ninth. Linden ran a steadily-paced 2:26:08, while Cragg finished in 2:28:25 and outkicked a pair of North Koreans to squeeze into the top ten.
Only Ethiopia and Bahrain put two athletes in the top ten; no other country had three.
More to come.