Kenyan athletes' stranglehold on the Pune International Marathon was broken on Sunday by 32-year-old Swedish runner Said Regragoui, who won the grueling race with a timing of 2 hours 18 minutes and 23 seconds.
The victory made him richer by Rs 300,000.
Participating for the first time in India, Regragoui said he was able to endure the hot and humid climate as he had run in similar conditions in Morocco earlier.
"My best timing is 2:14:52 in an international event in Italy. Comparatively, today's timing is on a slower side, but it was good enough to win the Pune International Marathon," he said, adding he is not yet sure about taking part in the Standard Chartered International Marathon, to be held in January, in Mumbai.
Josphat Ngila Ndeti of Kenya, who won the race in 2005, finished fourth with a timing of 2:20:48.
Though the Kenyan men were not able to repeat their earlier performances in the marathon, their women claimed the first three places in the women's half marathon.
Hellen Nzembi Musyoka finished the 21.98 km distance in 1:13:20 to emerge winner. She bagged the prize of Rs 150,000.
The total prize-money for different categories was Rs 20 lakh this year compared to last year's Rs 15.
The second and third spots went to fellow-Kenyans Cathy Mutwa and Pauline Mutwa Thitu. While Cathy completed the race in 1:13:31 seconds, Pauline made it to the finishing line in 1:15:09.
All the three were aged 19 and just out of school.
Hellen, hailing from the city of Machako, said she was running for the first time in Pune. Cathy Mutwa has been running for the last two years and had even won a cross-country race in Nairobi, her British coach Ledprooke said.
In the main event for the men, Oswald Reverian Kuhuruzi from Tanzania followed Said Regragoui while completing the 42.195 km race in 2:19:46 seconds to bag second spot. Ethopian Abebe
Siyoum made it for the third place with a timing of 2:20:17.
Madhuri Gurnule of Nagpur once again emerged the winner in the Indian women's half marathon. She finished the race in 1:20:31 seconds, and took home Rs 100,000.
K C Ramu of Army Sports Institute bagged the first position among Indian men. He was also awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000.
Runners from 16 countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Russia, Ethiopia, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, UK, Nepal, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and hosts India participated in the 21st Pune International Marathon.
Celebrities like Mandira Bedi, Mahima Chaudhary, Rahul Bose and hockey players Dhanraj Pillay and Zafar Iqbal, took part in the AIDS/HIV Charity Run.
