Sunday Men Gelchu Abdi Ali (Ethiopia) 2h11’32” Boufars Hicham (Morocco) 2h12’16” Kirwa Gilbert Kipruto (Kenya) 2h13’08” Direba Bonsa Dida (Ethiopia) 2h14’28” Felicien Muhitira (Rwanda) 2h14’32” Women Salpeter Lonah Chemtai (Israel) 2h24’16” Chepkwony Caroline (Kenya) 2h30’46” Clementine Mukandanga (Rwanda) 2h30’59” Rwanda’s long distance athlete runners Felicien Muhitira and Clementine Mukandanga yesterday qualified for the 2019 World Championships that will be held in Doha. They qualified after competing at the Firenze full Marathon in Italy on Sunday. Muhitira, 24, finished in fifth place after clocking 2 hours 14 minutes and 32 seconds in a race won by Ethiopia’s Gelchu Abdi Ali, who struck gold after clocked 2 hours 11 minutes and 32 seconds. Boufars Hicham, of Morocco, won silver after using 2 hours 12 minutes and 16 seconds, while the Kenyan Kirwa Gilbert Kipruto took the bronze medal after using 2 hours 13 minutes and 8 seconds. Another Ethiopian, Direba Bonsa Dida, came fourth in 2h14’28”. In the women’s category, Rwanda’s Clementine Mukandanga qualified for next year’s World Championships after winning the bronze medal having used 2 hours 30 minutes and 50 seconds. Salpeter Lonah Chemtai, of Israel, won gold with 2 hours 24 minutes and 16 minutes, while Kenya’s Chepkwony Caroline won silver having used 2 hours 30 minutes and 46 seconds. It was Muhitira’s inaugural participation in the annual event. Muhitira and Mukandanga now join Salomon Nyirarukundo, the other Rwandan long distance runner to have booked a ticket to Italy. Nyirarukundo struck gold medal in September during her debut at the annual Montreal Marathon in Canada. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
