Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa claimed her second marathon win of the year while Benard Biwott also secured victory at the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, a World Athletics Elite Label Road race, on Sunday (13).

The women’s race came down to a thrilling sprint finish and Hirpa managed to hold off her compatriot Dera Dida to win by four seconds – 2:20:45 to 2:20:49. Kenya’s Angela Tanui was third in 2:21:07.

Hirpa also won the Dubai Marathon in January, in a PB of 2:18:27.

Biwott strode away from his rivals with around 10km remaining and was unchallenged, reaching the finish line in a PB of 2:05:25. It was his second marathon race and his second win, after his victory in Frankfurt in October.

Djibouti’s Ibrahim Hassan was second in a national record of 2:06:13, while Kenya’s Sila Kiptoo was third in a PB of 2:06:21.

(World Athletics)