Mumbai Marathon 2017 Highlights: Alphonce Simbu wins men’s elite; Kheta Ram, Jyoti Gawte fastest Indians

And we’re off! #DreamRun #SCMM ????????‍♀️????????????????‍♀️????????????????‍♀️???????? pic.twitter.com/MVHtsWHSwt

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Effect of #Demonitisation at #SCMM2017 where senior citizen groups ran to spread awareness about going cashless @HTMumbai @htTweets pic.twitter.com/U5AklOkkLp

— Badri Chatterjee (@ChatterjeeBadri) January 15, 2017

Here’s Jyoti Gawte’s crossing the finish line 

The first Indian woman elite athlete to cross the #SCMM Full Marathon finish line is Jyoti Gawte! ???????? pic.twitter.com/s8KgBXvRoM

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Here are the winners of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2017:

Alphonce Simbu from Tanzania wins men’s elite
Bornes Kitur from Kenya win women’s elite
Kheta Ram and Jyoti Gawte are the fastest man amd woman from India

Here’s Bornes Kitur’s winning moment

Bornes Kitur of Kenya ???????? is miles ahead of the competition as she’s the first woman elite athlete to complete the #SCMM Full Marathon! pic.twitter.com/gllczCgJe2

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Jyoti Gawte comfortably in the lead among Indian women as she nears the finish line

Strong finishes by our top 3 Indian Elite (men) at #SCMM 2017. pic.twitter.com/07EKvw2NYv

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Kheta Ram crosses the finish line

Kheta Ram is the first Indian male elite athlete to cross the finish line in the #SCMM Marathon! ???????? pic.twitter.com/XLZMixaOae

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Kenya’s Bornes Kitur is the unchallenged women’s elite champion

The 21-year-old from Kenya notched up an impressive and virtually uncontested win with a personal best time.

Our top 3 International Elite (men) finishers of #SCMM 2017. pic.twitter.com/WwXpan4pPx

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

And the full marathon winners from India are... #SCMM2017 pic.twitter.com/qgp3lZoZWe

— TRRAIN (@TRRAINindia) January 15, 2017

Kheta Ram is the fastest Indian, as Bahadur Singh comes second and Sanjith is third.

The winning moment for Simbu

That winning moment! Alphonce Simbu of #TAN is the #SCMM 2017 International Elite (Men) full marathon champion. pic.twitter.com/TjWDE1Azjb

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Kheta Ram leads the pack among Indian men as they near the finish line at the Mumbai Marathon

Mumbai Marathon champion Simbu: I followed the strategy set by my coach, to come from behind; very happy to have won

And we get to see the lucky winners #SCMM2017 pic.twitter.com/Jm1NyZzZba

— TRRAIN (@TRRAINindia) January 15, 2017

What a finale!

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu is the champion, as Kenya’s Joshua Kipkorir comes second after an intense, neck-to-neck battle.

Kipkorir broke the deadlock early on and opened up the field, but the last-gasp burst from Simbu in the closing minutes, coupled with a lapse from the Kenyan, meant that the Tanzanian won the 14th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu set for victory in a dramatic finale

Alphonce Simbu takes the lead as Joshua Kipkorir falls back.

This is going to the wire!

Kipkorir and Simbu engaged in an intense battle as the finish line nears.
The Mumbai Marathon is in for a thrilling finale!

Just 4km to go! Kipkorir and Alphonce are playing a game of chess, shuffling positings. Nail biting stuff. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/Ar9N2wxnpw

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Kipkorir and Simbu neck-to-neck in the lead as the climax of the elite pack nears.
Only about 4 kms and 15 minutes to go. 
Who will come out on top?

It's now just a TWO horse race! Joshua Kipkorir of #KEN and Alphonce Simbu of #TAN fighting it out for top spot. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/CLdyMaGS0Y

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

It's now just a TWO horse race! Joshua Kipkorir of #KEN and Alphonce Simbu of #TAN fighting it out for top spot. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/CLdyMaGS0Y

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Big turnaround

A big turnaround in the elite pack as 22-year-old Joshua Kipkorir takes the unexpected lead.
“He broke the field apart,” say commentators as the Kenyan moves ahead with what can be a possible personal best.

The Dream Run has begun

The #SCMM Dream Run is underway with @RahulBose1 in the lead! pic.twitter.com/kBLSpJXdi6

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Champions with Disability run the Mumbai Marathon 2017 #SCMM2017 @procamrunning @WIONews @dna pic.twitter.com/NBhr8HnLlO

— Rohit Gandhi (@rohitgandhi_) January 15, 2017

The Dream Run participants are here! #SCMM pic.twitter.com/S6EGOeyVU6

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Joshua Kipkorir takes the lead 

RESHUFFLE! A big change in the lead at 1:37:38 as Joshua Kipkorir of #KEN has taken charge at #SCMM 2017. pic.twitter.com/r5SUVc6d3J

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Amarjeet Singh Chawla, the visually challenged, 62-year-old runner, finishes his Half Marathon in Mumbai

The Dream Run is about to get underway

Why I run: Four marathoners on what drives them to go the distance; before SCMM 2017http://www.firstpost.com

Here are the women’s elite winners of the Half Marathon 

The women's elite winners of the #SCMM half marathon take to the podium for the felicitation! 🔝 pic.twitter.com/q8jCzho9g5

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

At 1:13:40, our full marathon elites are munching on the miles across the Shivaji Park stretch. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/ACdsivHzFM

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

At 1:13:40, our full marathon elites are munching on the miles across the Shivaji Park stretch. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/ACdsivHzFM

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Here are the elite men winners of the Half Marathon 

The elite men winners of the #SCMM half marathon are felicitated at the podium! 🥇🥈🥉 pic.twitter.com/1fTnxgMQd2

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Michael Mutai leads at the half way mark 

At the half way mark, Michael Mutai of #KEN marginally leads. Too close to call right now! #SCMM pic.twitter.com/L0CXzg4FcM

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Mumbai Marathon 2017: Why Shailendra Mohan, the Go-Pro armed runner is running this weekendhttp://www.firstpost.com

Olympic champion, Kenya’s David Rudisha, is in the city to cheer all the runners. 

He talks about the Kenyan contenders, being an Arsenal fan, buying a kurta in India and how he hopes to run a road marathon some time in the future after his retirement from track and field.

Ezekiel, Michael & Jacob neck-to-neck at the Worli Sea Link stretch as well. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/EUQrh6HF5w

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Here are the Champions With Disability

Champions With Disability #SCMM flag off! ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/2xJ5xz8Xqm

— SC Mumbai Marathon (@runscmm) January 15, 2017

Indeed, a view to behold. #Mumbai in all its glory at the 2017 @runscmm. #Fit4Life #SCMM pic.twitter.com/XOgdVGqRVr

— Life at TCS (@People_TCS) January 15, 2017

Fabulous spirit at Marine drive for the Mumbai Marathon.#SCMM2017 pic.twitter.com/wrk0xLhPg4

— Kush Katakia (@kushkatakia) January 15, 2017

The elite runners have reached the Bandra Worli Sea Link now, as the race clocks 45 minutes.

Mumbai Marathon 2017: Meet some inspiring and interesting runners set to go the distance on Sundayhttp://www.firstpost.com

A centenarian, a visually-challenged man, a 54-year-old mother of two, a group of monks.
Take a look at some of the inspiring and interesting runners at the Mumbai Marathon:

Meanwhile, the elite race has reached the Haji Ali area

Michael Mutai of #KEN still closely leads at the Hajji Ali stretch. Race might start to open up at the Worli sea face. #SCMM pic.twitter.com/Q0dTw9Q6MP

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Good luck to the golden seniors! 

The Senior Citizens' run is about to begin! pic.twitter.com/1E3wDKoskd

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Time for the Senior Citizens

The Senior Citizens race is all set to begin at 8 am, an the enthusiasm at the start line is palpable.

Did You Know: Almost all the Indian male runners participating in the Mumbai Marathon are trained by the Army.

Currently at 0:27:16, Michael Mutai of #KEN leads the #SCMM 2017. pic.twitter.com/JKV9L32a8Z

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Here are some of the Indian athletes taking part in the Mumbai Marathon:
Kheta Ram, who was part of the contingent at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Elam Singh, who is from the Indian Army
Mohd Yunus, who will be running the full marathon
Jyoti Gawade, a woman runner from Maharashtra
Jigmet Dolma, who hails from Ladakh and has run four full marathons already

20 minutes in and the intense competition for lead is on! 

At 0:21:10, Ezekiel Chepkorom of #UGA has taken a slender lead. Initial stages but seems pretty tight! #SCMM pic.twitter.com/arX84RorMJ

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Michael Mutai from Kenya is in the lead of the elite pack, overtaking compatriot Jacob Kendagor

Here we go!

HERE WE GO! Our #SCMM elites are off to a speedy start. pic.twitter.com/fdPT2Eo5vC

— Tata Mumbai Marathon (@TataMumMarathon) January 15, 2017

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the Mumbai Marathon 2017. Stick around as we bring all the Live updates and action from the glittery event in Mumbai.