Kibet, Muchiri win 2012 Gauteng Marathon

Timothy Kibet Chelimo and Compatriot Eunice Muchiri won the inaugural Gauteng Marathon on Sunday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kibet cruised to the finish in a time of 2:17:33 ahead of South Africa’s Xolisa Tyali (2:17:59) and Ngaxzozo Mbongeni (2:18:10) who came second and third respectively.

In the women’s division, 20-year-old Eunice Muchiri crossed the finish line in a time of 2:43:08. Namibia’s Baita Naigambo came second in 2:43:13 leaving Kenya’s Pamela Kipchoge to settle for third place in 2:43:38.   

The two winners each pocketed cash awards of R250000.  

In the other races of the day, Mokgobu Desmond won the 21km men's race in a time of 1:05:54, closely followed by Tshidiso Bosiu in 1:05:56 while Samuel Pazanga came in third in 1:06:09.
In the women’s 21km race, Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora was the first woman to cross the finish line in 1:15:28. Lebo Phalula finished second in 1:17:41 ahead of Zimbabwe’s Olivia Chitate who posted 1:18:22.