Kenyan runners faced a challenging day at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, yet CyBrian Kotut and Stephen Kiprop secured significant earnings with their impressive finishes.
Kotut crossed the finish line in 2:03:22, claiming second place behind Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha, who won in 2:03:17. Fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew took third with a time of 2:03:31.
Kiprop finished fourth in 2:03:37, marking a shift in the marathon landscape as five-time champion Eliud Kipchoge did not participate this year.
The Berlin Marathon is renowned for its substantial prize money, distributing funds to all top 10 finishers.
Kotut pocketed $11,300 for his runner-up position, plus a bonus of $16,950 for finishing under 2:03:30, totaling $28,250 (Ksh3,636,138). Despite his strong effort, Kiprop missed the time bonus but still earned $6,780 (Ksh872,673) for his fourth-place finish.
In a disappointing turn for Kenyan women, no athlete finished in the top 10, with Pauline Esikon finishing as the highest-placed Kenyan in 16th. The Ethiopian women dominated the race, taking seven of the top 10 positions, ensuring a clean sweep for their nation.
