Veteran Zimbabwean athlete Abel Chimukoko performed below expectations when he finished 22nd in the first leg of the Standard Chartered World Relay Marathon in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, The Herald reported on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police athlete clocked two hours 23 minutes and 39 seconds in the high altitude race.

Last year Chimukoko did better in the same Nairobi Marathon where he finished in 2:22:12. Before his departure last week, Chimukoko had promised to use his previous knowledge of the course to better his time.

But he failed to improve that mark. Chimukoko's time and placement meant that Zimbabwe finished fourth in the main team challenge behind Uganda, Vietnam and Kenya.

Uganda's Moses Cherop, who was sixth in the main team challenge, was also first in the nations challenge in 2:18:26 with Nguyen Chi Dong of Vietnam second on the nations challenge in 2:22:39 while Kenya's Sammy Korgi Ngunjiri clocked 2:22:42.

Last year Zimbabwe was second in the nations challenge after the first leg. Kenya's Christopher Cheboiboch, who was running for a professional team called Run for Fun, won was the first athlete home in the Nairobi marathon when he crossed the line in 2:14:59 with Kenyan runners taking the next four slots.

The next leg of the Greatest Race on Earth will be in Singapore on December 3 with Oliver Kandiero taking over the baton from Chimukoko.

Source: Xinhua