Kenenisa Bekele wins Paris Marathon, sets new course record

PARIS (AP) — Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia won the Paris Marathon on Sunday on his debut at the distance.

Bekele completed the 42.2-kilometer race in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 3 seconds to break the race record set by Stanley Biwott of Kenya in 2012.

Limenih Getachew of Ethiopia finished second, 1:45 behind.

Flomena Cheyech of Kenya dominated the women’s race in 2:22:41, followed by Yebrqual Melese (2:26:21) and Zemzem Ahmed (2:29:35), both from Ethiopia.

Bekele won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has struggled with injuries over the past few years and hasn’t won a major title since the 2009 world championships in Berlin.

LEADING RESULTS

Men
1 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:05:03
2 Limenih Getachew (ETH) 2:06:49
3 Luca Kanda (KEN) 2:08:01
4 Robert Kwambai (KEN) 2:08:48
5 Jackson Limo (KEN) 2:09:05
6 Gideon Kipketer (KEN) 2:10:35
7 Mike Kigen (KEN) 2:10:58
8 Ketema Behailu (ETH) 2:13:23
9 Mark Kiptoo (KEN) 2:13:58
10 Ahmed Ezzobayry (FRA) 2:15:34

Women
1 Flomena Cheyech (KEN) 2:22:44
2 Yebrqual Melese (ETH) 2:26:21
3 Zemzem Ahmed (ETH) 2:29:35
4 Faith Chemaoi (KEN) 2:31:59
5 Gebisse Godana Derbi (ETH) 2:36:27
6 Martha Komu (FRA) 2:36:33
7 Aheza Kiros (ETH) 2:38:12
8 Laurane Picoche (FRA) 2:39:22