Laban Kipkemboi, runner-up in Los Angeles. © Victah Sailer

Australia’s Kerryn McCann managed a highly acclaimed home victory at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The marathon runner won the gold medal in 2:30:53 hours and defended her title. Samson Ramadhani (Tanzania) won the men’s race in 2:11:29. Also last weekend the Los Angeles Marathon took place. Lidiya Grigoryeva (Russia) and Benson Cherono (Kenya) were the winners.

Kerryn McCann had the edge in a sprint finish on Kenyan Hellen Cherono Koskei, who was running next to the Australian for most of the race. “I thought I would win silver,” said McCann and added: “That wasn’t me running that last 300 meters—it is unbelievable.” England’s Liz Yelling was third. “I know that the Kenyans are very strong, but I ran tactically clever,” said Ramadhani Nyonyi who won ahead of Kenyan Fred Mogaka. Mogaka had temporarily been ahead with a big margin. Third was Daniel Robinson from England.

In Los Angeles Lidiya Grigoryeva won in a fast 2:25:10 ahead of Gete Wami (Ethiopia/2:25:26) and defending champion Lyubov Denisova (Russia/2:26:18). Benson Cherono ran 2:08:40. He was in front of his countryman Laban Kipkemboi (2:10:08), who belongs to the KIMbia Team. Simon Wangai from Kenya was third in 2:10:35.