Kiprop misses podium, bags new PB at Mumbai Marathon

Ugandan Jackson Kiprop could return to the road in three months’ time in pursuit of a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics following a respectable display at the Mumbai Marathon in India yesterday.
The 33-year-old missed out on the podium in fourth place but he produced his best race in seven years after running a new personal best (PB) time of two hours, eight minutes and 41 seconds.
“Very good,” his manager Jurrie van der Velden said. “Fourth in this strong field and on this tough course and conditions means he made another step forward.”
Kiprop erased 51 seconds from his previous PB which set when he won his debut 42km race in Mumbai with then a course record of 2:09:32 in 2013.
His time beat the qualification mark of 2:11:30 places him fifth among Ugandans in the race for the three available marathon tickets to the Olympics with the window open from January 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020.
National record holder Filex Chemonges, Fred Musobo, Solomon Mutai and 2012 Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich are currently ahead of him.
“Today’s performance shows Kiprop can also go for the top three positions to Tokyo. Our marathon program in Kapchorwa is doing well and I think there is a good chance he will run in April but it’s up to him to decide,” added Jurrie.
Yesterday, Ethiopian Derara Hurisa further lowered the Mumbai Marathon course record by winning in a time of 2:08:09 to win $45000 (Shs165m) in prize money and a bonus $15000 (Shs55m).
For Kiprop to pocket $12000 (Shs44m) in fourth place, he was first part of leading group of 18 men when they went through 10km in 30.01 and the halfway mark in 1:03:52. Defending champion Kenyan Cosmas Lagat dropped out at the 14km mark
Upon the 35km, only eight men were and Ethiopian Birhanu Teshome charged to break down the field and only with 3km to go, Kiprop and Ethiopian Abera Kuma fell off, leaving Hurisa, Ayele Abshero and Teshome to jostle for the podium.