Mumbai, Jan 15 (IANS): Ethiopian duo of Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot won the men's and women's elite titles with new course records to take home the USD 45,000 winners prize and a course record bonus of USD 15,000 each in the 18th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon. here on Sunday.

Lemi won the men's Marathon Elite race in 2 hours seven minutes and 32 seconds to finish ahead of Rono Philemon of Kenya (2:08.44). Haymanot bagged the title in the Women's Elite Race in a timing of 2 hours 24 minutes and 15 seconds, ahead of second-placed compatriot Tusa Rahma (2:24.22) as Ethiopia swept the first eight spots.

T Gopi won the Marathon Elite Male Indian section in 2:16.41 with Man Singh (2:16.58) while Chavi Yadav won the Marathon Elite Women Indian race in 2:50.35 with Arati Pati 3:00.44.

In the Elite Men's race, Lemi took advantage of the slow pace in the first half of the men's race. The 2016 Boson Marathon winner ran alongside the defending champion, countryman Derara Hurisa, Kenyan Philemon Rono, and half a dozen other runners as they passed through the iconic Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link towards the halfway mark.

Lemi, Rono and another Ethiopian Hailu Zewdu broke away from the rest of the group at the 26th kilometre. The three athletes climbed the Peddar Road together on their return journey. Lemi increased his pace while coming down to enter Chowpatty beach corner and started running on the Marine Drive well ahead of the other two. His 2:07:32 is an early season lead in the world this year. Rono clocked 2:08:44 for the second spot.

The women started their race at a fast pace and there was a keen tussle between five Ethiopian runners at the midway stage. Worknesh Alemu, the 2019 champion here, drew from her past experience on the course to take the lead at that point.

However, Haymanot, a marathon debutant, broke away from Alemu. Rahma Tusa, two times Rome Marathon winner, and 2022 Sydney marathon runner-up Letebrhan Haylay ran shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

"Running along with these two experienced runners with fast timings to their credit was really a challenge, but I gained much experience from them," Haymanot revealed during a post-race press conference.

For the first time, the podium finishers in the women's section finished under 2:25, as Tusa (2:24:22) also finished under the previous course record of 2:24:33 held by Valentine Kipketer (Kenya) since 2013.

GOPI MAKES WINNING RETURN

Gopi T. made a winning return to competitive action while Chavi Yadav pulled off a spectacular victory on her marathon debut in the Indian race.

Olympian Gopi, the first Indian male to win the Asian Marathon Championship in 2017, clocked 2:16:41 to finish on top of the domestic Elites and 10th overall in the 18th edition of the USD 405,000 prize fund World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

All eyes were on Gopi who was returning to competition after three years following knee surgery and the Army runner didn't disappoint as he clocked 2:16:41, and was followed by Man Singh, who was 17 seconds behind, and Kalidas Hirave.

Gopi fell short of the upcoming Asian Games cut-off of 2:15 but said the win in India's largest marathon gave him a tremendous boost.

"It felt good to be back after three years. I maintained a good pace for the first 30-odd kilometres but slowed down towards the end," the Army runner told a news conference. "I never give up," added Gopi, who previously won in 2018.

The 2020 winner Srinu Bugatha finished fifth in 2:23:05.

Bhopal's Chavi said she was running the classic distance for the first time. "I didn't run more than 25 km even in training," she told a news conference. Arati Patil finished second, over 10 minutes behind, and Renu Singh was third.

The Elite Indian podium finishers were richer by INR 500,000, 400,000 & 300,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary bettered her course mark in the women's half marathon and Murli Gavit won the men's crown. The podium finishers took home INR 100,000, 75,000 & 60,000 respectively.