Africans assert supremacy in New Delhi

Kenyan athletes expectedly dominated the first Delhi International Marathon grabbing all three podium positions in the men's race on Sunday.

It was a thrilling race involving the three Africans with Simon Maliyo finishing first in two hours and 17 minutes leaving behind Markose Yatichi with a narrow margin of three seconds. Francise Kamau came home in 2:17:05 to complete a Kenyan clean sweep.

Surender Kumar Mavi was the fastest Indian clocking 2:23:00 in the race, which started and finished at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Surender finished 15th in the overall classification.

The marathon route boasted of a flat, loop course supposed to be one of the fastest in the world.

In the women's marathon, the African contingent reigned supreme with Ethiopia's Enantesh breasting the tape in 2:44:29. Monika Samila of Tanzania was not too far behind clocking 2:44:33 while Kenin Chala of Ethiopia followed in 2:44:37.

Leelamma Alphanso was first among Indian women in the 42.195 km-long event clocking 2:53:38. She finished seventh overall.