Tele becomes third Kenyan woman to win Tata Mumbai Marathon

Joyce Chepkemoi Tele registered her second straight marathon victory in three months following her win Sunday of the women’s race at the 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

Having won her maiden race in Ljubljana City Marathon in Slovakia last October in 2:20:17, the Kenyan runner was expected to return a better timing than the event record of 2:24:15 stands in the name of Anchialem Haymanot since 2023.

With defending champion Aberash Minsewo from Ethiopia and the pre-race favourite Shitaye Eshete (Bahrain) also in the race for the top prize, the women runners were expected to take a course record bonus this time.

However, Tele was left to challenge herself as Eshete and others left the fray at 27K and put the Kenyan to run a solo race. With a pacer taking her through the second part of the
race, Tele completed the race in 2:24:56, about 41 seconds slower than the record.

Eshete was on the silver spot at 2:25:29, while Ethiopia’s Medina Deme Armino, last year’s Hong Kong marathon champion, claimed the bronze (2:27:58).

Tele became the third Kenyan woman runner to win in Mumbai after Valentine Kipketer (2013) and Bornus Kitur (2017).

“I came here only to win the race and was not thinking about any record”, Tele said at the post-event press conference.

Eshete said she was happy about her performance today and would like to come again for better results.