Kenya's Edwin Kipyego survived stiff competition from fellow athletes before claiming the men's title, while Ethiopia's Yimer Wude emerged victorious in the women's elite category as around 32,000 Delhiites braved hot and humid conditions to run at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, in New Delhi on Sunday.
It was never an easy task for Kipyego till the half-way mark of 10.9km as his compatriots Leonard Langart and Silas Kipruto, who finished second and third respectively, matched him in pace.
Kipyego clocked one hour and 55 seconds to cover the stipulated 21.097 km and pocket $ 25,000 winner's purse, while Langart came up with a timing of 1:01:07s to settle for the silver. Kipruto clocked 1:01:57s to win the bronze.
Kipyego, however, was behind previous editions winning time of 59:30s, set by Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia. Desisa suffered from Achilles tendon pain during the course of the run and finished seventh with a timing of 1:02:50s.
Two-time winner Deriba Merga holds the course record of 59:15 seconds clocked in 2008, which is his personal best in this distance. Merga pulled out of the event in the last minute.
In the women's event, Ethiopia had one and two with Yimer Wude emerging winner with a timing of one hour, 11 minutes and 10 seconds. Her compatriot Waganesh Amare and Kenya's Helah Kiprop finished second and third, clocking 1:11:12s and 1:11:18s respectively.
Two-time winner Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia could not finish the race because of a leg injury.
Rahul Kumar Pal (1:06:12s) finished at the top among Indian men and overall 16th in the race. Nitender Singh (1:06:14s) and Indrajeet Patel (1:06:15s) followed Pal.
Sudha Singh was the fastest woman among Indians, clocking 1:19:34, followed by Kavita Raut (1:19:53s) and last year's champion Lalita Babbar (1:20:47s).