Kenyan runners showcased their dominance at the 30th edition of the Rome Marathon on Sunday, securing the top seven spots in the men's category and four of the top five positions in the women's division.

The 42.2-kilometer race, which took participants through the historic streets of the Italian capital under cool and overcast conditions, delivered fast finishing times, though none surpassed the course records.

Kenya's Robert Ngeno claimed victory in the men's race, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 35 seconds, improving his personal best by more than two minutes. He surged ahead of fellow Kenyan Brian Kipsang in the final kilometers to secure the win by 23 seconds.

"It is an honor to win such a prestigious race in Rome," Ngeno said after the race. "I hope this marks the beginning of more success in my career."

In the women's division, Betty Chepkwony of Kenya successfully won the title, finishing in 2:26:16, with Ethiopian runner Selam Fente Gebre finishing second at 2:28:22.

This marks the second consecutive year that Kenyan runners have won both the men's and women's categories in Rome, a feat that had not been achieved since 2021.

African athletes dominated the podium, with runners from Kenya and Ethiopia taking the top seven spots in the men's race and the top six in the women's competition.

The highest-placed non-African male runner was Italian Daniele Meucci, who finished eighth. In the women's race, Czech runner Petra Pastorova emerged as the highest-placed non-African, finishing seventh.