Georgina Rono celebrates after winning the Hamburg Marathon in Germany. [PHOTO:AFP] Kenya’s Georgina Rono braved rain and windy conditions to win Sunday’s Hamburg Marathon crossing the line in 2:26:47. Rono beat Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash 2:27:30 and Winny Jepkorir 2:27:57 to the crown. Fourth place was taken by Melkam Gizaw in 2:28:14 while fifth was Chinese He Yinli He in 2:28:56. Top German Katharina Heinig as ninth in 2:33:56 a personal best but best European Filomena Costa of Portugal in sixth (2:31:08). In the men race, Ethiopia’s Shumi Dechasa won in 2:06:44 just ahead of Kenya’s Eric Ndjema and Philemon Rono in cool temperatures. “It was certainly not a very fast race, but I definitely wanted to finally win,” said Dechasa who ran a personal best, having finished fourth in Hamburg two years ago. Former world record holder Haile Gebrselassie had been forced to withdraw from the marathon last month after suffering from a pollen allergy. According to local police figures, 800,000 spectators lined the route cheering on 16,500 runners as the race was held for the 29th time. The weather conditions were not perfect for the Hamburg marathon with slight rain at the beginning and windy in second part. More than 16 000 runners gave life anyway to an amazing competition. See Also: Mumias hosts AK meet: Athletes will gauge speed as they focus on national trials Men race had a solid pace until 30k with 1:03:31 at the half and 1:30:31 at 30k when Shumi Dechasa of Ethiopia started to push. Only Kenyan Eric Ndiema was able to stay with him for around 10k before leaving the Ethiopian alone. To note that Ndiema arrived only Saturday evening to Hamburg so was not completely recovered after long travel. Dechasa won in 2:06:44 ahead of Ndiema 2:07:01 and third Kenyan Philemon Rono in 2:07:08 debut. Fast also fourth Ethiopian Belay Asefa 2:07:11 beating more Kenyans Laban Korir 2:08:05, pacer John Mwangangi 2:08:06 and Felix Keny 2:09:04. Lucas Rotich made a solid debut at the distance with 2:09:22 in front of famous Japanese Yuki Kawauchi (2:09:36) in ninth. — Agencies
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