Kenyan marathoner Barnabas Kiplimo emerged as the winner of the 2025 men’s edition of the Khon Kaen Marathon in Thailand.
Kiplimo crossed the finish line with a winning time of 2:18:55, ahead of Ethiopian runner Ebisa Kure Takele, who clocked 2:21:43 on January 12, 2025, in Khon Kaen.
Takele’s compatriot, Fekadu Tesfaye Degefa, completed the podium in third place with a time of 2:21:45.
In the women’s race, Kenyan athlete Jemutai secured second place with a time of 2:53:13, trailing behind Ethiopian Tsega Desta Mehari, who claimed the victory at 2:52:11.
Another Kenyan, Elizabeth Chepkanan Rumokol, rounded out the podium in third with a time of 2:55:40.
While the impressive performances by Kenyan athletes dominated the headlines, it was Kiplimo’s unexpected footwear that caught everyone’s attention.
The 28-year-old marathoner was seen crossing the finish line in sandals.
A spot check by The Kenya Times confirmed that Kiplimo wore the world’s first carbon-plated running sandals—the Nirun, designed by the Thai running brand VING.
Details of sandals won by Barnabas Kiplimo in his Khon Kaen Marathon win
The motivation behind the Nirun was to “simplify the footwear industry” by creating the “world’s first super sandal”, according to the brand’s website.
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Unlike most carbon-plated racing shoes which have uppers made of lightweight fabric or sewn material, the Nirun’s upper and midsole are both made of proprietary foam.
The sandal features a full-length carbon plate within the foam midsole, designed to enhance cadence and provide responsiveness.
Additionally, the super sandal has a traditional thong-style flip-flop design, but its foam heel strap adds some extra security, almost like a Croc.
VING launched a product testing camp in Iten, Kenya, one of the world’s premier training destinations for long-distance runners and have been testing the super sandal on elite distance runners and marathoners in warm training conditions to evaluate its durability, performance and speed.
The brand has a few prototypes for sale but remains in the testing and development phase.
“We are planning to launch a Kickstarter project in February with an updated version of the sandals,” the brand wrote on Instagram. They also plan to showcase their product at the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon in March.
Although the super sandal might seem questionable at first glance, performances like Kiplimo’s give it credibility. At the Khon Kaen, Kiplimo improved his previous marathon best by eight minutes.
Kiplimo is among the Kenyan athletes who have triumphed in marathon races this year.
Kenyan bags Doha Marathon
Ezra Kipketer Tanui claimed victory in the 2025 men’s Ooredoo Doha Marathon, held at the Doha Corniche in Qatar on Friday, January 18.
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Tanui, competing in just his second marathon, finished the men’s race in 2:07:28, eight seconds ahead of Balew Yihunle (2:07:36) and 12 seconds ahead of Mitku Tafa (2:07:40), who placed second and third, respectively.
Ethiopia’s Ethlemahu Sintayehu took home the women’s elite title at the same event.
The prize pool for this year’s marathon surpassed a staggering QAR 1 million (approximately Ksh35,572,733), with two Toyota cars also raffled off to determine the winner.
All participants who completed the race were eligible for the raffle.
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