Mutiso upsets bigwigs at Prague Marathon with new course record

Kenya’s Alexandar Mutiso and Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa are the 2023 men’s and women’s Prague Marathon champions respectively.

Mutiso destroyed a strong field to win the men’s race and set a new course record time of 2:05:09. He shattered compatriot Eliud Kiptanui's record of 2:05:39 that he had set during the 2010 edition of the race. 

Ethiopian Sisay Lemma clocked 2:06:26 to cross the finish line second as another Kenyan, Philemon Rono, sealed the podium after clocking 2:06:51.

The race marks Mutiso’s second marathon ever after making his debut at last year’s Valencia Marathon that saw him display a brilliant run to settle for third-place in 2:03:29.

Mutiso opened his season in Japan at the Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon where he won the race in 59:17. He then came back in the country just in time for the second Athletics Kenya meet that saw him win the 10,000m race in 28:43.42.

The Prague Marathon is his third race since the season started and so far, he is unbeaten.

Meanwhile, the women’s race saw Edesa cut the tape in 2:20:41 ahead of the Kenyan duo of Margaret Wangari and Viola Kibiwot who placed second and third in respective Personal Best times of 2:23:53 and 2:24:55.

Elsewhere, the duo of Silas Too and Jane Jelagat stole the show at the Geneve Marathon after winning the men’s and women’s titles respectively.

Too cut the tape in 2:09:40 ahead of Eritrea’s Petro Mamu who clocked a new PB of 2:10:19. Another Kenyan, Cosmas Kiplimo clocked 2:10:42 to seal the podium.

In the women’s race, Jelagat ran away with the top honours after clocking 2:31:40. She was closely followed by Ethiopia’s Demitu Hawas and Lydia Mathathi who settled for second (2:35:51) and third (2:37:15) respectively.