Bett completed the 42.195-km race in 2:17:09, beating Tanzania’s Disdery Hombo and his countryman, Elijah Chemwolo, who came second and third with times of 2:17:35 and 2:18:03, respectively.

The winner won NT$666,666, which will allow him to buy over 1,200 square meters of land in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

“I will use part of the money to continue my training in running, and part of it to buy farmland” Bett said.

The 27-year-old farmer was an excellent amateur marathoner who started intensive training last year, decided to turn professional in April this year, and has since won awards in two marathons in Italy.

The ING Taipei International Marathon brought Bett his first championship.

Bett did not break the event’s record of 2:11:05 set by another Kenyan marathoner, Luke Kibet, and missed the chance of winning NT$1 million for breaking the record. However, he expressed hope that he will break the record next year.

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