Mosinet Geremew and Joan Chelimo both broke the course records to triumph at the Seoul Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race. Sutume Assefa finished runner-up in the women’s version.
Ethiopia’s world silver medalist Geremew saw off the challenge of his compatriot Herpasa Negasa and Brazil’s Daniel do Nascimento to win the men’s race in 2:04:43.
Geremew and Negasa made a move and looked to be leaving Do Nascimento behind, with a six-second gap.But Do Nascimento wasn’t giving up and rejoined the leaders to trail by just a few strides as 40km was passed in 1:58:27.
It was London and Chicago runner-up Geremew who was strongest in the closing stages and he held off his challengers to return to winning ways after being unable to finish the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year.
Negasa, who was second in Dubai in 2019, claimed another runner-up spot in 2:04:49, while Do Nascimento finished third.
In the women’s race, Melly – who has a half marathon best of 1:05:04 and was contesting her fourth marathon – was among the nine runners who passed 5km in 16:40 and 10km in 32:58. The lead group was down to six at 15km (49:30) and Melly had broken away with 2019 Beijing Marathon winner Sutume Assefa.
Melly and Sutume had broken away by 40km, passed in 1:12:16, with Melly eventually striding away to win by eight seconds, 2:18:04 to 2:18:12, and record an almost three-minute PB.
Seven years after her victory in Seoul, Ethiopia’s Guteni Shone finished fifth in 2:28:05.