मुंबई मेराथान में कीनिया के धावक ही आगे रहे

मुंबई मेराथान में कीनिया के धावक ही आगे रहे
Kenneth Mugara set a new course record to win the men's title of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2009, as Kenya swept the first Arjun Rampal with physically challenged पर्तिसिपन्ट्स three places of the first international sporting event here after the November 26 terror attacks in the city, PTI reported. ( Watch ) Mugara finished the race in 2 hours 11 minutes and 51 seconds ahead of compatriots David Tarus (2 hours 12 minutes and 2 seconds) and two time winner John Kelai (2 hours 12 minutes and 23 seconds). The earlier record timing of 2 hours 12 minutes and 3 seconds was set by Kenya's Daniel Rono in 2006. About 150 elite foreign athletes, including 52 women, took part in the full Marathon that has attracted 2,500 entrants. The Marathon is a USD 2,50,000 prize money affair. Several thousands of Mumbaikars enthusiastically turned out for the marathon. The race started amidst heavy presence of police throughout the route. Besides Mumbai police, private security guards and volunteers were also deployed. Watch towers were erected and CCTVs were installed at strategic locations on the 42.19-km-long route between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in South Mumbai and Bandra Reclamation in western suburb. Leading Mumbaikars in the run were many celebrities like Anil Ambani, Milind Soman, Arjun Rampal, Vinay Pathak, Shreyas Talpade, Rahul Bose, Om Puri, Tara Sharma, Lillete Dubey, Dolly Thakore, Anand Mahindra, Amit Chandra, Archana Chandra, Sanjeev Kapoor and Annabelle Mehta. The event brand ambassadors were John Abraham, three-time Olympic champions Gabriela Szabo and Gail Devers, and famous Moroccan long distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj, the spokesman said. The Mumbai Police and traffic police, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the state government, the Indian Navy and other agencies were actively involved to make the event safe and successful