Biruktayit Degefa Eshetu (photo: Victah Sailer)
Biruktayit Degefa Eshetu (photo: Victah Sailer)

Ethiopia’s Gebo Burka shook off his compatriot Girmay Gebru Berhanu in the final kilometre of the Chevron Houston Marathon to win the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race in 2:10:55 on Sunday (17).

 

He also extended the Ethiopian men’s winning streak in Houston to eight races.

Defending champion Birhanu Gedefa came through strongly over the final five kilometres and completed an all-Ethiopian men’s podium when the 2015 Houston Marathon winner came home for third in 2:11:53.

Yitayal followed the leading trio home in fourth with 2:12:09 with Kozlowski enduring a gruelling final five kilometres but eventually finishing fifth in 2:14:11.

Women’s Race

Biruktayit Degefa Eshetu won the women’s title in 2:26:07, finally triumphing after finishing fourth and then third in 2014 and 2015.

Australia’s 37-year-old Lisa Weightman went through halfway in 1:12:47 in a clear bid to improve on her best of 2:26:05 set when winning the Melbourne Marathon in October 2013 prior to a baby break.

She had exactly one minute over a four-woman chasing group but Biruktayit  went past her just before 30km and then pulled away.

However, Weightman held her nerve and hung onto second in 2:27:35 with Ethiopia’s Sechale Dalasa third in 2:28:43.

Lelisa Desisa led an Ethiopian one-two in the associated Aramco Houston Half Marathon, winning in 1:00:37 with Mosinet Geremew a close second in 1:00:45.

There was also a very fast women’s race which was won by Kenya’s Mary Wacera in a course record and personal best of 1:06:29, coming home ahead of her compatriot Cynthia Limo in 1:06:41, which was also a personal best.

Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba was third in 1:07:55 in her first race since winning the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 marathon title.

Source: IAAF