/ 21 March 1999

KENYANS INVADE LISBON

KENYA dominated the Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday, notching eight of the top ten positions, including three medals, in the men’s event and snatching the women’s gold. Jophet Kosgei clocked 1:00:01 to win the men’s run, just 25 seconds ahead of Joseph Kimani who took the silver. Philip Rugut seized Kenya’s third medal in the men’s event, crossing the finish line in 1:00:31. The women’s gold went to marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe, who triumphed for the fifth time in the Lisbon run, timing 1:07:52. The 21.097km event featured some 22000 runners who crossed the April 25 bridge over the River Tagus and paced riverside streets to Belem with temperatures around 17 degrees.