Rawat, Lalita win among Indian runners in Delhi Half Marathon

NITENDER SINGH RAWAT AND LALITA BABBAR emerged winners among Indian runners in the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in men's and women's categories respectively in New Delhi on Sunday.

Rawat finished the race in an hour and 41 seconds while Gopi T. was four seconds behind in second place. Mohammed Yunus claimed the third spot in an hour, four minutes and 46 seconds.

Overall, Rawat was five minutes and one second behind champion Birhanu Legese of Ethiopia.

Lalita, O.P. Jaisha and Sudha Singh grabbed the top three places respectively among Indian women runners.

While Lalita completed the race in an hour, 10 minutes and 52 seconds, Jaisha was 42 seconds behind. Olympian Sudha finished in an hour, 11 minutes and 46 minutes.

All of them broke Kavita Raut's domestic record of an hour, 17 minutes and 12 second in 2008.

Lalita, winner here in 2010 and 2011, said she took the lead at the 14-km mark and never looked back.

Overall, the trio took the eighth, ninth and 10th positions respectively in the women's section. Kenyan Cynthia topped the overall race in an hour, eight minutes and 35 seconds.