Florence Kiplagat was once again in imperious form as she won the 2017 eDreams Mitja Marato Barcelona in overwhelming fashion. Kiplagat had set world records at this event in 2014 and 2015. However this time, the windy conditions caused her to rule out pursuing the record. She had recently lost the record to compatriot Peris Jepchirchir. Her winning time of 1:08:15 was well ahead of second placed Ethiopian Kuma Dibaba who clocked 1:10:36.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m satisfied with my win but also a little bit disappointed as the wind has annoyed me a lot,\u201d I would have liked to run under 1:06 today but at this early stage of the season I\u2019m not at my peak as I\u2019m still in full preparation for the London Marathon in April. I love to come back to Barcelona every year; I realise people already know me and really appreciate me.\u00a0 It\u2019s OK, records are there to be broken,\u201d she added when asked about Jepchirchir\u2019s world record earlier in the week. \u201cI\u2019m now happy for her and we\u2019ll try to regain the record in the future.\u201d said Kiplagat,<\/p>\n
The men’s race was more hotly contested. The\u00a0Kenyan quartet of Meshak Koech, Leonard Langat, Chicago marathon champion Abel Kirui and Joel Kimurer ran alongside Ethiopia\u2019s Zewdi Million Yehualashet to cover the first 10K in 28:45.<\/p>\n
In the end Leonard Kipkoech made his move in the last kilometre to win in 1:00:52. Little known Meshak Koech was second in 1:00:54 while Kimurer and Kirui took 3rd and 4th places.<\/p>\n
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