HUSBAND AND WIFE WINNERS
Kenyan runners make it a family affair in Paris
Paul Lonyangata and Purity Rionoripo give Kenya a reason to smile after historic wins at the 41st Paris marathon
Paris — Paul Lonyangata won the 41st Paris marathon on Sunday with his wife, Purity Rionoripo, tying up the women’s race to make it a memorable day for the Kenyan couple in the French capital. Lonyangata recorded his biggest career win in 2hr 6min 10sec despite losing valuable time when doubling back after missing the penultimate water station. His compatriot, pre-race favourite Stephen Chebogut, came in second at 2:6:56sec, with Solomon Yego completing the all-Kenyan podium in third at 2:7:13sec. "I feel good now as my aim was to come here to win," said Lonyangata, who was going one better after taking second in the Paris half-marathon in March. Rionoripo made it a red-letter day for the couple, the 23-year-old setting a record time of 2:20:50 to smash her personal best by almost four minutes. The couple’s success put a smile back on the face of Kenyan athletics 48 hours after the news of Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong’s failed dope test. She was the first Kenyan woman to...
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