Kenyan one-two in Madrid Marathon

Madrid, April 23 (IANS) Kenyan athlete Patrick Korir produced a strong finish in the last 400 metres to defeat compatriot Enock Mitei in the Madrid Marathon.

Korir won the race in a modest two hours, 12 minutes and seven seconds, six minutes ahead of Enock Mitei and seven ahead of third-placed Thompson Cherogony, the 2010 winner and runner-up last year, reports Xinhua.

Margaret Agai, another Kenyan, won the women's race in two hours, 32 minutes and 23 seconds on a bright and breezy morning in the Spanish capital.

The spring sunshine and a light breeze meant the conditions were ideal for the 12,000 athletes who took part in the popular race around the streets of Madrid.

The event was enlivened by the presence of 20 rock groups, one at each strategic point of the race. The musicians were participating in a competition of their own. Their music and the cheers of the crowd, who lined the streets, motivated tiring runners to cross the finish line.

The competition apart, the event saw some 6,000 participating in a 10-km fun race.