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Koech and Kwambai Win AACR Philadelphia Marathon

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By David Block for Runner’s Gazette
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

The 30th running (see note below) of the Philadelphia Marathon, held Sunday, November 19, was not only meaningful for the thousands of runners who competed, but also for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, mayor since 2016. His mayoral term ends this January 2024. In a brief interview with this writer, Kenney said that one of the many things he will remember about the Philadelphia Marathon each year of his mayoral term is: “So many people have come from all over the country and the world to run it.”

In the men’s field this year, Benard Kiptoo Koech of Kenya won with a 2:14:26 clocking. Last year, he finished third in the Philadelphia Marathon with a slower time of 2:15:41. “I was not expecting to win,” said Koech. His Achilles tendon was bothering him for the last three weeks. “Today, I just wanted to run my race,” said Koech. Until the 21-mile mark, he never held the lead. 

After they hit 19 miles on Ridge and Main Street, Sammy Rotich ran ahead of everyone. After Rotich hit 21 miles on Kelly Drive, Koech passed him. “I did not push the pace,” said Koech. “I ran at the same pace the whole time.” Because he was more concerned about his pace than about the competition, Koech said that he never looked back—not even once—when he was in first place. Koech maintained the lead and finished first to collect $10,000.00. (Rotich finished third, 2:16:34, earning $5,000.00.)

Finishing second was Joseph Whelan of Rochester, NY who posted 2:14:42, 15 seconds behind Koech, collecting the second-place prize of $7,500.00. He said that at last year’s Philadelphia Marathon, he started out too fast and ran with the lead pack. “I didn’t do well last year,” said Whelan. This year he ran at a more comfortable pace. “I slowly started working my way up,” he said.  He didn’t know what place he was in until people at the 25K (15.5 miles) mark told him he was in fourth.

He soon saw the lead pack and stopped himself from running neck and neck with them. “I needed to budget my energy,” said Whelan. “I kept reminding myself, ‘don’t catch them this mile. Wait.’ ” After 25 miles, he pushed the pace and passed everyone but Koech. “I only saw him (Koech) for the last kilometer.”

Whelan said that deciding to run the Philadelphia Marathon was a last-minute decision. “I was sick when I ran the New York Marathon two weeks ago (November 5). I didn’t do well and I didn’t want my last marathon before the Olympic Marathon Trials (February 3 Orlando, Fla) to end on that down note.” Whelan contacted the Philadelphia Marathon organizers and asked if they could put him in the race.

The second woman finisher—Christina Welsh, 2:33:29—had a similar scenario to that of Whelan’s. At last year’s Philadelphia Marathon, Welsh of St. Petersburg, FL started out with the lead pack and eventually grew too tired to stay with them. “This year, I went out more conservatively,” said Welsh. “I was in fourth place for most of the race.”

After hitting 25 miles, Welsh sped up and moved into second place. She was uncertain whether she could hold that position. “It was whoever had the best kick,” said Welsh. Her second place finish earned her $7,500.00. Her next marathon will be the Olympic Trials this February. (She qualified at 2022 Chevron Houston Marathon with a 2:33:08.)

The first woman finisher, Mercy Jerop Kwambai of Kenya won by more than two minutes. She clocked 2:30:53 to collect $10,000.00. She had been uncertain how she would finish because she hadn’t run this race, nor was she familiar with her competitors. Kwambai said she lives in Kenya year-round. Unlike many of her Kenyan fellow runners, she does not train in the U.S. “I came here, United States, Thursday,” said Kwambai. “I go back Wednesday.”

Notes from Clay Shaw

  1. Some people consider this the 60th running. The Philadelphia Marathon was founded in 1954. It wasn’t held in 1960-61, 1990-93, or 2020. It was held twice in 1965. Yeah, I ran it a few times and did a 2:55 PB at the time in 1982.
  2. 11,408 participants finished the 2023 Philadelphia Marathon.
  3. Masters runners at Philadelphia. Heidi Peoples of Clark Summit, PA is 43 and rocked a PB of 2:38:40 and finished eighth overall. Duncan Koech, 42, of Nairobi, Kenya was the top master in 2:21:30, placing twelfth.
  4. Saturday had two stellar races, the Deitz & Watson Half Marathon had 12,986 finishers. The women were led by Everlyn Kemboi of Kenya in 1:11:02, Philadelphia’s Amber Zimmerman was second in 1:11:31. Catherine Mwanzau of Kenya was third in 1:12:03.
  5. Peter Mwaniki Njeru of Kenya set a course record of 1:02:16. He was followed by fellow countryman Lawrence Kipkoech in 1:04:04 and Travis Mahoney of Bayonne, NJ who was third in 1:04:10.
  6. In the Rothman 8k, which had 3946 runners, it was Mahlet Mulugetu Alemu of Ethiopia taking the women’s title in 25:44. She was followed by Ireland twin sisters Roisin and Eilish Flanagan who ran 26:46 and 26:52.
  7. Cameron Miller of Arlington, VA won the men’s title in 23:38. Shadrack Keter of Kenya was second in 23:36. Paul Ryan of Santa Clarita, CA was third in 23:39.

Full results here

Top Women

  1. 2:30:53 Mercy Jerop Kwambai, 35, Kenya
  2. 2:33:29 Christina Welsh, 27, St Petersburg, FL
  3. 2:32:32 Damaris Areba, 28, Kenya
  4. 2:35:14 Elizabeth Chikotas, 27, Harrisonburg, VA
  5. 2:35:53 Demitu Hawas Lenjiso, 25, Ethiopia
  6. 2:36:58 Kayla Lampe, 30, Shelburne Falls, MA
  7. 2:38:20 Samantha Drop, 25, Athens, GA
  8. 2:38:40 Heidi Peoples, 43, Clarks Summit, PA
  9. 2:39:34 Hannah Rowe, 32, Boston, MA
  10. 2:39:57 Elizabeth Mancini, 23, Media, PA
  11. 2:41:14 Kylie Lupica, 30, Philadelphia, PA
  12. 2:42:08 Madeleine King, 24, Virginia Beach, VA
  13. 2:43:07 Veronica Graziano, 36, Falmouth, ME
  14. 2:45:20 Ashton Swinford, 33, Hudson, OH
  15. 2:46:28 Tessa Barrett, 27, Arlington, VA
  16. 2:46:51 Mary Kate Vaughn, 25, Denver, CO
  17. 2:46:57 Katie Yoder, 28, East Petersburg, PA
  18. 2:47:44 Alyssa Salese, 31, Huntington, NY
  19. 2:48:03 Olivia DeRogatis, 28, Philadelphia, PA
  20. 2:48:15 Amy Shackelford, 35, Colorado Springs, CO

Top Men

  1. 2:14:26 Benard Kiptoo Koech, 23, Kenya
  2. 2:14:41 Joseph Whelan, 33, Webster, NY
  3. 2:16:34 Sammy Rotich, 37, Kenya
  4. 2:16:52 Will Loevner, 26, Pittsburgh, PA
  5. 2:16:55 Pierre-Lou Billerot, 30, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  6. 2:17:16 Ryan Eller, 37, Boston, MA
  7. 2:18:59 Maxime Leboeuf, 36, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
  8. 2:19:13 Thomas Nobbs, 24, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  9. 2:19:40 Dennis Kipkosgei, 28, Kenya
  10. 2:21:00 Miguel Bautista, 27, Seattle, WA
  11. 2:21:20 Christopher Phillips-Hurt, 30, Boston, MA
  12. 2:21:30 Duncan Koech, 42, Kenya
  13. 2:21:54 Harley Thompson, 31, Saint Marys, PA
  14. 2:23:28 Giovanni Blanco, 27, Jefferson, IN
  15. 2:24:30 Samu Poher, 29, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
  16. 2:24:40 Aaron Manning, 30, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  17. 2:24:42 Jay Schairbaum, 28, Brooklyn, NY
  18. 2:25:02 Jerald Taylor, 25, Colorado Springs, CO
  19. 2:25:02 Milan Duka, 30, Serbia
  20. 2:25:37 Zach Barker, 35, Birdsboro, PA
2023 start of the AACR Philadelphia Marathon, with mainly the female elites on the right side of Ben Franklin Parkway.
Mercy Jerop Kwambai of Kenya wins the AACR Philadelphia Marathon in 2:30:53. Great job by the banner holders this year, too.
Benard Kiptoo Koech of Kenya wins the 2023 AACR Philadelphia Marathon in 2:14:26.
Michelle Wheeler of Argyle, TX was first wheelchair female in 2:04:02. We’ve been photographing her for several years, watching her improve every year!!!
Joseph Whelan of Webster, NY was second in 2:14:41. He ran New York City Marathon two weeks prior.
Christina Welsh of St Petersburg, FL was second overall in 2:33:29.
USA Tokyo Olympic Marathoner Aliphine Tuliamuk enjoys the Philadelphia Marathon. Wishing her the best in Orlando. at the Olympic Marathon Trials!!
Sammy Rotich of Coon Rapids, MN and Kenya was third in 2:16:34.
Elizabeth Chikotas of Harrisonburg, VA was fourth overall and had an OTQ in her debut marathon! Her time was 2:35:14.
Will Loevner of Pittsburgh was fourth in 2:16:34 with a OTQ in his very first marathon.
Every second counts as Kayla Lampe gets the OTQ by two seconds in 2:36:58.
Pierre-Lou Billerot of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was fifth in 2:16:55.
Thomas Nobbs of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was eighth in 2:19:13.
Kayla Lampe of Shelburne Falls, MA earned an OTQ by just two seconds in 2:36:58. It was also a new PB for Lampe.
Maxime Leboeuf of Gaitneau, Quebec, Canada is jubilant as he was seventh in 2:18:57.
Samantha Drop of Athens, GA was seventh in 2:38:20 in her first marathon.
Maxime Leboeuf of Gaitneau, Quebec, Canada was seventh in 2:18:57. Five men from Canada were in the top 16.
Heidi Peoples, 43, of Clarks Summit, PA earned top masters prize and eighth overall, with a personal best of 2:38:40.
Elizabeth Mancini #118 of Media, PA was tenth in 2:39:57 in her debut marathon. Her twin sister Eleanor #114 is with her at mile 9.
Kylie Lupica of Philadelphia was eleventh in 2:41:14.
Christopher Phillips-Hurt of Boston was eleventh in 2:21:20.
Madeleline King of Virginia Beach, VA was 12th in 2:42:08.
Duncan Koech of Nairobi Kenya was top master and 12th overall in 2:21:30.
Veronica Graziano of Falmouth, Maine strides across the Girard Street Bridge and the Schuylkill River on her way to 13th place in 2:43:07.
Harley Thompson of Saint Marys, PA ran 2:21:54 to place 13th.
Ashton Swinford of Hudson, OH was 14th in 2:45:20.
Katie Yoder of East Petersburg, PA was 17th in 2:46:57.
Olivia DeRogatis of Philadelphia smiles on her way to 19th in 2:48:03.
Veronica Graziano of Falmouth, Maine sees friends as she leads a group of runners across the Girard St. Bridge.
Paul Thistle of Rockville, MD was 36th in 2:31:30.
Giovanni Blanco of Jefferson, IN (14th, 2:23:28) and Samu Poher of Quebec City, Quebec (15th, 2:24:30) lead a typical large pack across the Girard Street Bridge near mile 12.
A very happy Joel Bomberger of Lancaster ran 2:46:32.
Jake Thorsen of Lancaster, PA ran 2:46:31. Tessa Barrett of Arlington, VA in the foreground was 15th in 2:46:28.
David Rumsey of Harrisburg, PA was 36th in 2:29:58.
The three leaders on the Girard Street Bridge are Dennis Kipkosgei #14, Benard Kiptoo Koech #3 and Sammy Rotich #11.
Matthew Martino of Hanover, PA finished 32nd with a new personal best of 2:28:42.
An interesting competitor. I don’t know, but I think it won the 1 billion and older age group.
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