Barno of Kenya, Merachi of Ethiopia win Los Angeles Marathon

Elisha Barno wins LA Marathon; Askale Merachi wins women’s race in course-record time Pic :Photo Courtesy

Barno of Kenya, Merachi of Ethiopia win Los Angeles Marathon

John Korir thought he was going to join his brother as a winner of the Los Angeles Marathon. But the Kenyan saw his chances of victory on Sunday pass him by within view of the finish line.

Elisha Barno of Kenya passed his countryman with 150 meters to go for the closest finish in the race’s 34-year history. Barno — who won the race for the second time in three years — crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 46 seconds and beat Korir by seven seconds.

Askale Merachi of Ethiopia won the women’s division in 2:24:12, setting a race record.

“It wasn’t an easy race,” said Barno, who finished third last year. “I saw the pace was high late but I held back a little. I decided to push the last couple kilometers.”

It was a slow pace with a dozen runners in the lead pack until mile 17. It went down to a three-man pack of Barno, Korir and Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico a mile later before Korir broke away. Barno was in third with two miles to go before passing Barrios and catching Korir.READ MORE

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/