This archive report was first published on 3 November 2019.
On a cool and comfortable Sunday, Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio, a 30-year-old Kenyan runner, broke the men's course record at the 2019 Beijing Marathon, clocking 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 9 seconds.
Launched in 1981, the Beijing Marathon has grown to attract around 30,000 runners from home and abroad. Kisorio led alone in the last 10 kilometers of the 42.195km race, cutting 10 seconds off the 2:07:16 course record set in 2013.
"It's good weather," Kisorio said. "I'm happy to win and break the course record. I hope I will come here again and achieve better results."
Behind Kisorio, Solomon Kirwa Yego of Kenya finished second in 2:09:45, followed by Emmanuel Rutto Naibei, who clocked 2:10:15.
On the women's side, Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede grabbed the title in 2:23:31, with Li Zhixuan finishing second in 2:29:06 and Mulu Seboka Seyfu of Ethiopia taking third in 2:29:09.
Li expressed her satisfaction with her second-place finish, saying, "It is my second Beijing Marathon. I didn't expect to finish second as my time was not good. I am not in my best shape."
Li also shared her plans for the future, stating, "I will work hard in the winter training spell to prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games."
