Kosgei cruises to women’s mark

When the initial pace was too fast, Brigid Kosgei slowed it down just a bit.

The 23-year-old Kenyan didn’t decelerate too much, pushing the pace and smashing the women’s record at Sunday’s Honolulu Marathon. Kosgei finished in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 15 seconds to shatter the record and repeat as marathon champion. The previous record of 2:27:19 was set by Lyubov Denisova in 2006.

“I’m happy,” said Kosgei, who averaged a 5:26 mile on the 26.2-mile course. “I broke the record in Honolulu and because I won again.”

Nancy Kiprop of Kenya was second in 2:29:16, Joyce Chepkirui of Kenya, the 2014 and 2015 champion, was third in 2:33:18 and Kenya’s Janet Rono finished fourth in 2:39:32. Kenyan women have won the last four races.

“I’m very happy,” Kiprop, 38, said of her runner-up finish.

The three women ran together off the start and hit a blistering 4:58 at the first mile and just a few steps behind the men’s lead pack. The pace slowed a bit after the quick start, averaging a sub-5:30 pace.

“It was too fast in the beginning,” said Kosgei, who earned $40,000 for winning the race and another $15,000 for breaking the record.

Chepkirui fell back after the 20-kilometer mark (12.4 miles) on Kalanianaole Highway, and Kosgei and Kiprop crossed the half-marathon mark at 1:11:50 (5:29 pace) in Aina Haina.

Kosgei made another move at the 25-kilometer mark (15.5 miles), creating a five-second gap between herself and Kiprop. She skipped the aid station at 25k, quickly increasing her lead and passing Dennis Kimetto, the men’s marathon world record holder, who had faded from the men’s lead pack.

“For me it was too fast,” said Kiprop. “We went too fast and I tried to fight back. Around 25 kilometers, I (decided) to run my own race.”

With the wind blowing behind her and the steady drizzle letting up, Kosgei increased the pace as she made her way out of Hawaii Kai. In cool conditions, Kosgei said she didn’t feel any effects of humidity and the light rain felt like running back in her training area.

“I tried to push us until somewhere and then I left and I pushed at 25 kilometer and then they dropped and then they dropped,” Kosgei said.

Running alone and with her competition far behind her, Kosgei pushed the pace in the latter half of the race and said she made another push at 30k (18.6 miles). As her lead grew and grew on Kalanianaole Highway, she occasionally glanced over her shoulder.

“Nothing I see,” said Kosgei.

Even a steep climb on Diamond Head heading to the finish at Kapiolani Park didn’t slow Kosgei, who shaved nine minutes off her winning time from last year. She finished second in October’s Chicago Marathon, hampered by her left hamstring, then went home to Kenya to train for Honolulu.

WOMAN’S TOP 3 BY AGE GROUP

WOMEN’S TOP 250 FINISHERS