MUMBAI: In an Ethiopian dominated elite international men's field, spearheaded by the two-time defending champion Lemi Berhanu, two Eritreans would have the final word at the 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon on Sunday.
Berhane Tesfay became the marathon's newest men's champion, crossing the line in 2:11:44, in a slow-paced race which turned into a thrilling tactical battle among six men. Just six seconds after Tesfay, standing out in long fluorescent yellow socks, sealed his first ever marathon title, his compatriot Merhawi Kesete (2:11:50) followed, making it a memorable Eritrean one-two finish. In an indication of how close a showdown it had been going into the final stages, it was again merely six seconds before Ethiopia's Tesfaye Demeke (2:11:56) crossed the finish line to take the bronze.
