The 19th edition of the Pokhara Marathon witnessed a historic feat as Kenyan athlete Wilson Cheruiyot set a new record, completing the full marathon in 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 24 seconds. The event, organized by the Nepal Ex-Sportsmen Forum, saw Cheruiyot surpass the previous record of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 36 seconds, set by fellow Kenyan Julius Muriali Wahome.
Muriali, who secured victory in the previous edition, finished second this time, just two seconds behind Cheruiyot at 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 26 seconds. Another Kenyan runner, Onesmus Gitau Jorog, clinched third place with a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 21 seconds.
Cheruiyot’s triumph earned him a cash prize of NPR 500,000, while Muriali received NPR 300,000 for his second-place finish. Jorog, securing third place, won NPR 200,000. The dominance of Kenyan runners in the international category continued, leaving a mark in Nepal’s marathon history.
Nepali Runners Make Their Mark
Among Nepali participants, Kiran Singh Bogati finished in fourth place, followed by Niroj Bhatta Chhetri in fifth, Rikhu Lal Magar in sixth, and Dinesh Singh Bogati in seventh place. Kenyan runner Michael Mathia secured eighth place. The Nepali runners received prizes of NPR 50,000, NPR 20,000, NPR 15,000, and NPR 10,000, respectively.
In the Gandaki Province category, Niroj Bhatta secured the top position, clocking 2 hours, 38 minutes, and 22 seconds. Rikhu Lal Magar finished second, followed by Dinesh Singh Bogati in third place. Other notable finishers included Meen Rashi Bk in fourth, Ashok Baram in fifth, Sanam Gurung in sixth, and Pritam Gurung in eighth place. Their prizes ranged from NPR 50,000 for the winner to NPR 4,000 for the eighth-place finisher.
Half Marathon: Kenyan and Nepali Runners Shine
The 21-km Half Marathon saw another impressive Kenyan victory, as John Banstara secured first place with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 7 seconds. Nepal’s Santosh Bikram Bista closely followed, completing the run in 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds to claim second place. Gajendra Rai finished third with a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 2 seconds. The winners received NPR 75,000, NPR 50,000, and NPR 30,000, respectively.
In the women’s 21-km Half Marathon, Olympian Santosh Shrestha defended her title, winning in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 3 seconds. Kenyan runner Swaron Jonotik finished second in 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 7 seconds, while Nepal’s Pushpa Bhandari secured third place with a time of 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 8 seconds. The prize money for the top three finishers was NPR 150,000, NPR 100,000, and NPR 75,000, respectively.
10 km and 5 km Categories
The men’s 10-km race was won by Shubham Lamichhane, who completed the distance in 36 minutes and 5 seconds. Rajendra Tamang finished second, and Badal Karki claimed third place. Among women, Sumitra Kumari Chaudhary emerged victorious in 38 minutes and 56 seconds, followed by Asha Rawat in second and Narayani Bhandari in third.
In the 5-km category, Sugandha Lamichhane secured first place among boys, while Menuka Adhikari won in the girls’ division. Prizes ranged from NPR 15,000 for first place to NPR 7,000 for third place.
Veterans Category
For runners aged 50 and above, Dharma Maharjan won the men’s category, while Tolmaya Thapa secured first place in the women’s category. They, along with second- and third-place finishers, received prize money up to NPR 15,000.
A Grand Celebration of Endurance and Sportsmanship
The 19th Pokhara Marathon proved to be a grand success, highlighting both international and local talents. The event was inaugurated by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and witnessed a significant turnout of athletes, sports enthusiasts, and dignitaries.
The marathon continues to establish Pokhara as a premier destination for long-distance running events in South Asia. With Kenyan athletes maintaining their dominance and Nepali runners making steady progress, the future of marathon running in Nepal looks promising.
