Kenya's distinctive team tactics, which have become synonymous with their rampant success, were seen to great effect as Nicholas Kioko demolished a strong field to win yesterday's Standard Chartered Hong Kong-Shenzhen Marathon.
Kioko snatched victory in record time from China's Zhao Chaochun as the Kenyans showed their class, with three of their four runners finishing in the top five at the Shenzhen Sports Centre.
Battling a strong headwind and a sore thigh, Kioko lived up to his favouritism, kicking past the Chinese in the last four kilometres to set a new course record of two hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds.
Zhao crossed the line 26 seconds behind after the number three-ranked Chinese runner failed to match the finishing power of the Kenyan, who looked unstoppable in the closing stages.
Kenya's Ambrose Makau grabbed third place in 2:17.19, while China's Xie Daoru battled home strongly into fourth place, another 35 seconds behind, in 2:17.54. The top four finishers broke the men's course record set by New Zealander Peter Handcock in 1993, which stood at 2:18.35.
The Kenyans used the same trademark tactics which have proved such a success over the years as John Musila, the youngest of the four Kenyans, was made the sacrificial pacer.
Musila, 21, hit the front at the start of the race, and was leading until the 38-kilometre mark before he dropped back to finish fifth.
