With a timing of 2 hours 18 minutes and 19 seconds, Satara\u2019s Kalidas Hirave missed the course record by a mere five seconds, but won the men\u2019s marathon in style. Five seconds behind Hirave was his close buddy Pradeep Singh Chaudhary. Two-time winner, twice runner-up and course record-holder Mohit Rathore finished third with a timing of 2:19.06.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hirave, who missed his personal best by five seconds, said, \u201cI was uncertain to run here and had decided to train for the 42 km distance with a friend in Vasai. I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to run competitively.\u201d He won Rs 3 lakh as prize money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For 40 kms, the top three were within breathing distance of each other. Rathore, who was on track for his third win here, pulled up a little. \u201cMy body didn\u2019t cooperate in the final lap. This is the first time I am finishing third. I will be back next year and promise to win with a course record,\u201d he said. Rathore had set the course record of 2:18.05 in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The men\u2019s half-marathon saw a photo-finish for the top two spots with Rohit Verma of the Navy pipping Nitesh Rathva by a mere 1 second. Remarkably, the top five runners beat the course record of 1:04.37 set by Anish Thapa in 2019 by a huge margin and also registered their personal bests. Verma got Rs 2 lakh as prize money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kolhapur\u2019s Deepak Kumbhar, who was in the lead till the 17km mark, struggled with calf pain and was pushed to third place, three seconds behind Rathva. \u201cI lost out in the last 10 metres as I was cramping in the leg,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tall and gangly Verma said he loved the route. \u201cThe nice climate made running easy and I faced no problems at all,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sonika (she doesn\u2019t use her surname), a farmer\u2019s daughter from Haryana and a Railway employee, won the women\u2019s half-marathon with a timing of 1:13.22. It is not only a course record but also her personal best. The old record stood in the name of Ujala with 1:13.33 that she set in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bharti, also of Haryana, stood second with 1:13.51 while Sakshi Jadyal was third with 1:14.51.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a good race and had defending champion Prajakta Godbole (tired hence didn\u2019t participate) been there the competition would have been better,\u201d said Sonika, adding that she managed to pull away at the 17km mark. She got Rs 2 lakh as prize money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m currently jobless,\u201d announced second-placed Bharti who is also from Haryana. \u201cI loved the course and will be back again.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadyal, a college student from Ulhasnagar, received a lot of encouragement from the pilot vehicles and volunteers. Running for the first time here, Sakshi had stomach cramps at 5kms. \u201cI was cheered by the volunteers and managed to finish the race.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Sakshi Malik, who flagged off the 15,000 runners as the brand ambassador of the event, was \u201cstunned\u201d to see the enthusiasm and spirit of the participants among different age groups. \u201cIt is good that the young and old are participating in such events. It is important that everyone pick up one sport and continue to pursue it for one\u2019s well-being,\u201d she said while congratulating all the medal winners as well as the participants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The event was organised by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation and the Vasai Virar Kala Kreeda Vikas Mandal, and promoted by Aryanz Sports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Results (all provisional)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marathon<\/p>\r\n\r\n
1. Kalidas Hirave 2 hours 18 minutes 19 seconds; 2. Pradeep Singh Chaudhary 2:18:24; 3. Mohit Rathore 2:19:06; 4. Dhanavat Pralhad Ramsing 2:19:49; 5. Amit Ramesh Patil 2:25:13.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Half Marathon<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Men (all under course record of 1:04.37): 1. Rohit Verma 1:03:12; 2. Niteshkumar Rathva 1:03:13; 3. Deepak Kumbhar 1:03:16; 4. Rinku Singh 1:04:07; 5. Shubham Sindhu 01:04:13<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Half Marathon<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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