Association of International Marathons and Distance Races

The home of world running™



News

To Race Directors: For inclusion in this section, please send your articles to news@aims-worldrunning.org.

Distancerunning To read the latest & past editions click here

Race news EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

Kosgei and Ayele win Lisbon Half

Female champion more than three minutes ahead of nearest rival

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei and Dinkalem Ayele from Ethiopia won the 33rd edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon on Sunday.

Racing in warm and humid conditions, Kosgei clocked 1:05:51 to claim the women’s crown, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Ethiopian Bosena Mulatie, while Ayele held off Kenya’s Dominic Kiptarus to win the men’s race, 1:00:36 to 1:00:40.

In a tune-up race before the London Marathon, Kosgei confirmed her status of favorite, storming to the win just before the 10k point, to finish with a comfortable margin. Mulatie was second, in 1:09:00, with the Ethiopian Tigist Menigstu completing the podium, in 1:09:14.

In the men’s race, Ayele formed part of an five-strong pack that reached 10km in 28:35 and stayed together until the 20km mark, when he stormed to the victory. In the end, the 23 year-old Ethiopian won four seconds ahead of Kiptarus and 20 ahead Amanal Petros, the best European in the field today.

Besides the elite race, more than 13,000 runners finished the emblematic half marathon that started from the 25 de Abril Bridge, plus almost 10,000 in the 10K race (Vodafone 10K).

Result

Half marathon
Men
1 Dinkalem AYELE ETH 1:00:36
2 Dominic Chemut KIPTARUS KEN 1:00:40
3 Amanal PETROS GER 1:00:56
4 Dennis Kibet KITIYO KEN 1:00:58
5 Bravin Kipkogei KIPTOO KEN 1:01:10
Women
1 Brigid KOSGEI KEN 1:05:51
2 Bosena MULATIE ETH 1:09:00
3 Tigist MENIGSTU ETH 1:09:14
4 Betty Chepkemoi KIBET KEN 1:09:35
5 Vivian MELLY KEN 1:09:41

Race news Vienna City Marathon

Eritrean duo might eye two records at once in Vienna

Weldu and Tesfu have both run faster than course record before

Rebecca tanui 09 54 by leo hagen

Eritrean duo Nazret Weldu and Dolshi Tesfu head the current women’s start list of the Vienna City Marathon on 21st April, race organisers have announced.

Weldu and Tesfu, who are by some distance the fastest Eritrean women marathon runners in history, may be challenged by Kenyans Shyline Toroitich and Rebecca Tanui. There are hopes that the 41st edition of Austria’s major road race will see an attempt to break the course record, which currently stands at 2:20:59.

Including races at shorter distances, the organisers of the Vienna City Marathon expect to register over 40,000 entries for the 41st edition. Around 10,000 of them will be marathon runners. The Vienna City Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race.

It took 19 years until the women’s course record of Italy’s late Maura Viceconte was finally broken in the Austrian capital in 2019. Kenya’s Nancy Kiprop improved the mark to 2:22:12. However Kiprop’s time lasted much shorter than Viceconte’s. In 2022 fellow-Kenyan Vibian Chepkirui clocked 2:20:59.

Nazret Weldu and Dolshi Tesfu have both already run faster than Vienna’s course record: 34 year-old Weldu clocked a national record of 2:20:29 when she took a very strong fourth place in the World Championships’ Marathon in Eugene in 2022. She won the Daegu Marathon in South Korea with 2:21:56 in the same year and then placed sixth in Boston in 2023 with 2:23:25. Competing in a hot World Championships’ race in Budapest last summer Weldu finished eighth with 2:27:23. Despite this series of strong performances Nazret Weldu still has not achieved the Olympic qualifying standard for Paris. She will want to make sure in Vienna that she runs fast enough to get into the Olympic race.

Dolshi Tesfu features a personal best of 2:20:40. The 24 year-old, who is just 1.56 m tall and weighs just 42 kg, ran this time in her debut marathon when she finished ninth in Valencia in 2022. During the race Dolshi Tesfu ran the first half in 68:53, which is by far the fastest half marathon time ever run by an Eritrean woman. Dolshi Tesfu then showed fine performances in her two marathons in 2023 as well: First she was runner-up in Rotterdam with 2:21:35 and then she finished 10th in a hot World Championships’ marathon in Budapest in August. She is already qualified for the Olympic marathon.

When Weldu and Tesfu will come to Vienna for the first time they could attack two records in one go: While the course record stands at 2:20:59 for the two athletes the national record of 2:20:29 would probably be even more significant.

There is an athlete on the start list with a sub 2:20 PB, but at the age of 43 Helalia Johannes is not expected to challenge for victory. The Namibian ran 2:19:52 in 2020 and holds the masters world record since then.

Two Kenyan women could be the main challengers for Weldu and Tesfu: Shyline Toroitich and Rebecca Tanui both know how to win a city marathon. Toroitich took the Enschde Marathon last year with a personal best of 2:22:45 while Tanui was the winner of the San Sebastian Marathon in 2022 with a PB of 2:23:09 and then also won in Venice last autumn. Tanui will have the advantage of knowing the course of the Vienna City Marathon since she was fourth here last year with 2:26:34 in warm weather conditions.

For Andrea Ramirez Limon the Vienna City Marathon presents the last chance to achieve qualification for the Olympic Games’ marathon this summer. The Mexican has a personal best of 2:26:34. However she ran this back in 2020, so it does not count as an Olympic qualifier for Paris. While the qualifying time is 2:26:50, Andrea Ramirez Limon would need a faster time to succeed since the Olympic race will have a limit of 80 starters.

Austria’s record holder Julia Mayer has achieved qualification since she was among the 64 pre-qualified athletes at the end of January with her PB of 2:26:43. She will be among a group of runners who target the Olympic qualifying standard.

Race news EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

Former marathon world record holder Kosgei heads Lisbon Half elite field

EUR 150,000 bounty offered for a world record

Today, Maratona Clube de Portugal announces the women’s elite field for the upcoming EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, scheduled for March 17th.

The Kenyan Brigid Kosgei will be the top contender, looking for her first win at one of the fastest half marathons in the world.

Kosgei, 30, a previous marathon world record holder and still the third fastest woman ever (2:14:04), returns to Portugal for the fourth time, after coming second in 2022 in the same EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (1:06:46).

Besides Kosgei, the women’s elite field will feature other big names, such as the Ethiopians Bosena Mulatie (65.46) and Tigist Menigstu (66:20), and the Kenyan Betty Chepkemoi Kibet (66:37). All of them will be targeting the course record set last year by Almaz Ayana (1:05:30), but we can expect fast times, especially because there will be a bonus of EUR 150,000 for a new world record (Letesenbet Gidey, 62:52).

In the men’s field – also with a EUR 150,000 bonus for a world record (which was set by Jacob Kiplimo in this same course in 2021 (57:31) – the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon will have 10 athletes with personal bests below the hour. Kenyan Abraham Kiptum (59:09) and the Ethiopian Solomon Berihu (59:17) are the main contenders, but they will have strong competition from Dinkalem Ayele (59:30), Brian Kwemoi (59:37) and Bravin Kipkogei Kiptoo (59:37). Another athlete to keep an eye on is the American Leonard Korir, who will aim to break the national record of Ryan Hall (59:43).

Also, EDP Lisbon Half Marathon will have a few of the best European athletes, such as the Norwegian Sondre Moen (59:48), the Italian Eyob Ghebrehiwet Faniel (60:07) or the Germans Amanal Petros (60:00) and Hendrik Pfeiffer (62:05). Final mention to the Brazilian Daniel do Nascimento, who will also try to break the national record of Brazil (59:33 – Marílson dos Santos, in 2007).

Race news Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Yuka Ando first Japanese champion in three years in Nagoya

2:21:18 is her new personal best and first marathon victory – but it’s not enough for Paris

Nwm2024 pr4 2

At the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2024 held today on Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Nagoya, Japan, Yuka Ando of Japan won her first marathon in 2:21:19, breaking her personal record for the first time in seven years.

Unfortunately, she was unable to reach the Japanese/Asian record of 2:18:59 just set by Honami Maeda in January to secure the final spot on the nation’s Paris Olympics team. She commented tearfully after the race, “There are many people who have helped me to get this far, and I’m filled with gratitude. I can’t go to Paris, but I’m really happy that I won,” bringing great emotion to the marathon fans who gathered in the streets of Nagoya and watched the race throughout Japan.

After a chilly start with a temperature of five degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1mph, three leading Japanese athletes, Ando, Ayuko Suzuki, and Rika Kaseda, formed the leading pack with 2022 World Champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia and 2023 Asian Champion Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain. Despite the difficult conditions with headwinds at many points, the group crossed the halfway point in 1:09:56. The Japanese started to fall behind with Suzuki around 25 km, and Ando and Kaseda around 16 km, but Ando and Kaseda continued to chase the lead pack side by side.

Around 36 km, Gebreslase stopped running and dropped out of the race, which left Chumba in first and Ando in second, and the two went neck-to-neck after 39 km. Ando, responding to the passionate cheers from the roadside, sped off at the last 700–800 m and burst into the final stretch in Vantelin Dome Nagoya to capture the dramatic upset victory. Chumba finished second in 2:21:25, and Suzuki finished third in 2:21:33 with a new personal best.

In the post-race interview, Ando, winning the first marathon in her career, said with a smile, “It was really hard when I fell behind the lead pack, but I was able to catch up by running, only focusing on going forward. Thanks to all the cheering along the course, I was able to do my best. I want to make today a new start and do my best again with a fresh mindset.”

Alongside the spectacular elite race, many women joined the world’s largest women’s marathon from home and abroad, making the total number of participants 15,421. All finishers received the symbol of the event, the exclusively designed pendant from a global premium jeweler, Tiffany & Co., as a memento of their accomplishment. The Marathon Expo, held in conjunction with the race, also attracted 101,416 visitors over the three days and took part in the festival of women’s running that Nagoya proudly stages to the rest of the world.

The Race Organizer comments: “Thanks to the runners, volunteers, and everyone involved, we were able to hold the race once again this year without any major accidents. We are truly grateful for all the runners for their participation and the volunteers and all the others for their support.”

Race news Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Gotytom Gebreslase hopes to break Nahoya course record

Fast paced race expected as Japanese elite runners try for Olympic qualification

64f13178 8289 f0d3 f70f 0e09e5269de8

In advance of the highly anticipated race scheduled for this Sunday, March 10, 2024, the Nagoya Women’s Marathon held a pre-race press conference for the invited elite athletes today in Nagoya, Japan.

Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH), 2022 Oregon World Champion and 2023 Budapest World Championships silver medalist said, “My goal for Sunday is to run under two hours 18 minutes, and if the weather and pacemakers are good, I will try to break the course record of 2:17:18.” Her competitor Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain, 2023 Asian Games Champion said, “My preparation has been going well, and my focus will be to improve my personal best of 2:20:02.”

For Japanese athletes, the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2024 will be the last chance to win a place in the Paris Olympics team by beating the new national record of 2:18:59 just set by Honami Maeda this January. The 2020 Tokyo Olympians Ayuko Suzuki will aim to break the target of 2:18:59 so she can compete in the Olympics again to show what she really can do, adding that she was ready to turn the support of the local spectators of her hometown Aichi into strength. Sharing the same goal with Ayuko, Rika Kaseda commented that she had prepared for a high-speed race and would challenge herself to keep up with the pace of other fast athletes to grab the last ticket for Paris 2024.

In addition to these top elite athletes, many recreational runners will join the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2024 from home and abroad, making it an exciting race with 18,000 participants. All finishers will be presented with an event’s exclusively designed Tiffany & Co. pendant and a New Balance T-shirt as the finisher prize.

Sunday’s race will be streamed live free of charge to 37 countries and regions (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and United States of America) on the race’s official website at https://womens-marathon.nagoya/en/broadcast.php. Stay tuned for the race to start at 9:10 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2024, Japan time.

Race news Košice Peace Marathon

Peter Polák’s incredible 400,000km milestone accomplished

Since 1971 Košice runner has covered the distance to the moon

O polak 400000km

On Saturday, March 2, 2024, an unusual event took place in Košice. Peter Polák reached the goal of 400,000 kilometers run at the age of 75.

He succeeded in the period from the summer of 1971, when he started writing his training diaries. In addition to tireless training sessions, Peter Polák also achieved several remarkable sporting achievements. He has a total of 22 marathon victories, with his best time, set in 1986, being 2:21:26. Later, he also started to engage in ultra running and here he excelled, among others, by winning the 100 km race in Chavagnes, France (1991). In addition, he became the European champion at the same distance in Santander (ESP) as a member of team Czechoslovakia.

As a native of Košice, during that long period he almost never missed the start of the Košice Peace Marathon. In total, he has completed it 47 times so far, and if nothing happens, he wants to add another start on October 6, 2024.

Let’s go back for a moment to March 2, 2024. On this day, a special run was organized where Peter Polák reached the already mentioned 400,000 kilometers. To give you a better idea, this is a distance that is ten times the circumference of the earth and also the distance that separates our earth from the moon. That is why several friends jokingly ask him when and how he will return from this journey through space.

Peter Polák is still active as a coach and prepares several younger local runners. And he is literally tireless even in civilian life. Despite his advanced age, he still works as a locksmith in the workshops of the Technical University in Košice.

Readers and fans of endurance running are already looking forward to his autobiography, which will be published at the end of March under the title “Run, Boy, Run”.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Steinruck will run in Hamburg

And world cross country champion Irine Cheptai to make marathon debut

Steinruck thaleiser cropped

Irine Cheptai, Kenya’s World Cross Country Champion from 2017, will run her debut marathon in Hamburg on 28th April.

This was announced by the organisers of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg, who released some of the top women’s contenders and presented Germany’s Katharina Steinruck during a press conference.

While Steinruck will chase a special family record on the fast Hamburg course it is Winfridah Moseti who heads the current women’s start list. The Kenyan has a personal best of 2:20:55. 14,000 runners are expected to compete in Germany’s biggest spring marathon on 28th April. Online registration for the race is still possible at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de

Irine Cheptai has been very successful on the track as well before she focussed more on road running. In 2021 she was sixth in the Olympic 10,000 m final in Tokyo and a year later the Kenyan won the 10,000 m silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Then she showed very promising half marathon races, culminating in a 64:53 PB in Valencia where she was second. With this time Cheptai was the fourth fastest half marathoner in the world in 2023.

Hamburg has seen great debut marathons in the past. In 2013 it was Eliud Kipchoge who won with a course record of 2:05:30. Two years ago Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw ran an unofficial world debut record of 2:17:23 which still stands as Hamburg’s course record. There are two more debutants on the women’s start list who could do very well on 28th April: Kenya’s Nelly Jepchumba has a half marathon PB of 67:00 while Roselida Jepketer of Bahrain has run 68:40 for the half.

Winfridah Moseti ran a huge personal best of 2:20:55 when she was runner-up in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon. While the Kenyan will want to build on this performance Frankfurt’s third place finisher will be among her rivals in Hamburg: Sharon Chelimo improved to 2:22:07 last October. Ethiopia’s Kidusan Alema and Canada’s record holder Natasha Wodak, who have personal records of 2:22:28 and 2:23:12 respectively, will also run their spring marathon in Hamburg.

Katharina Steinruck will be very much in the national focus when she hopes to break her mother’s family record. It was exactly 25 years ago when Katrin Dörre-Heinig, the bronze medallist of the 1988 Olympic marathon in Seoul, won the Hamburg Marathon with 2:24:35. For many years this was the German marathon record. “It is my aim to break my Mum’s record and it would be great if I could do it in Hamburg,“ said 34 year-old Katharina Steinruck, who is coached by her mother and improved to 2:24:56 in Osaka at the end of January. “Katha“ Steinruck returns to the race for the first time since 10 years and has good memories. In 2013 and in 2014 she clocked personal bests of 2:34:20 and 2:33:56 in Hamburg as a young athlete. Ten years later running around ten minutes faster will be the goal. And there could not be a more fitting race than the Haspa Marathon Hamburg to break the family record.

Race news Tui Palma Marathon Mallorca

TUI becomes title sponsor of Palma Marathon

Travel specialist will offer exclusive packages to the race

Esp np pmm2024 tui  1

The Palma Marathon Mallorca and TUI, one of the world’s leading tourism businesses, are joining forces again in 2024. TUI takes on the role of the “title sponsor”, providing a boost for the event’s continued growth on all fronts and positioning it as one of the major benchmarks in the European running world.

Kumulus, the organizing company of the prestigious Palma Marathon Mallorca, is pleased to announce that TUI, a global leader in the tourism industry, is joining as the main sponsor of the event starting in 2024. This exciting development will further strengthen the position of the race as one of the most prominent events on the European running calendar.

TUI was the driving force of the first eleven editions of the event, previously known as the TUI Marathon, and is now returning as the title sponsor and exclusive distribution partner for the 20th anniversary race in 2024, as well as the 2025 and 2026 editions, which are organised by Kumulus.

“We are delighted to welcome TUI as our new title sponsor,” said David Thompson, Kumulus CEO. "Over the past few years, the event has grown in terms of the diversity of countries represented, reaching 76 nationalities in the last edition. The addition of TUI, a globally recognised brand committed to quality and excellence, will allow us to increase this international and multicultural participation that we seek as an organization. Kumulus reaffirms its commitment to excellence and the highest quality standards in the organization of sports events.”

Travel packages encompassing flights, hotel, race registration and exclusive experiences will soon be bookable throughout Europe exclusively via TUI.

“Nothing is as emotional as travelling – except sport, of course. This sponsorship initiative will support TUI’s growth through the strong combination of sports and travel, and the additional visibility of an internationally successful sports event. Together with our destination partners, we want to create sports and leisure experiences that encourage people to travel, appeal to new and existing customers, and that can be booked as packages via all our sales channels.” added Sebastian Ebel, TUI Group CEO.

In the past edition, the Palma Marathon Mallorca surpassed 7,000 registered participants across the three distances (9, 21, and 42 kilometers) with an outstanding 43% female participation, an unprecedented figure in Spain. Additionally, it once again stood out as the most international event in the European running scene, with over 80% of participants coming from abroad, representing 76 nationalities, including a significant 36% from Germany and 20% from the UK.

The TUI Palma Marathon Mallorca will continue to be a recreational and sporting event, showcasing the island and city of Palma to participants and their companions. The event will feature free cultural activities throughout the weekend, including a Ball de Bot exhibition, concerts at the Expo in Parc de la Mar, Pasta Party, Friday’s Breakfast Run, and the final event celebration.

The TUI Palma Marathon Mallorca is organised by Kumulus with the support of the City Council of Palma, and the backing of the Balearic Islands Tourist Strategy Agency and the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain, as well as the Mallorca Tourism Foundation and the Consell de Mallorca. The TUI Palma Marathon Mallorca also enjoys the collaboration and sponsorship of Zafiro Hotels, 361o, Fornes Logistics, Ports de Balears, among others.

The TUI Palma Mallorca Marathon takes place on October 20th, 2024. The 42km course follows the coastal path near Palma de Mallorca and enters the city centre, with participants passing key architectural landmarks, including the Cathedral, La Llotja and Es Baluard. If a marathon is a step too far, runners can also opt to enter the half marathon or a 9km course. For more information and to register: https://www.palmamarathonmallorca.com/

Race news EDP Lisbon Half Marathon

Lisbon offers 150K EUR bounty for new records

Bonus for new world records in the half marathon

Bonus recorde do mundo

Scheduled for March 17, the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon remains one of the world’s leading and fastest long-distance races and this year it will once again reward fast times with an attractive cash prize.

Therefore, as an incentive for the elite, the race organisers Maratona Clube de Portugal today announced a bonus of 150,000 Euro (162,500 USD) for new world records in this year’s race.

Lisbon already holds the best men’s mark – 57:31 (Jacob Kiplimo, in 2021) – and now, as well as wanting to improve on that stratospheric record, it also wants to add the women’s record, which is currently held by Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey, with 1:02:52 in Valencia, the same year.

In addition to Kiplimo’s time, Lisbon has been the scene of other world and European records in the past, such as Zersenay Tadese’s world record in 2010 or Mo Farah’s continental record in 2015.

Carlos Moia, president of the Maratona Clube de Portugal (MCP) says: “This bonus of 150,000 EUR for a possible world record, both female and male, reflects our unwavering commitment to promoting talent and inspiring athletes to reach new heights of success and overcoming. We will continue our tradition of recognizing and rewarding excellence. Lisbon, with all its light and good energy, provides the perfect setting for moments of great achievement.”

Sunday’s races will be broadcast directly on RTP1 and RTP Internacional to more than 200 million potential viewers around the world.

Race news Napoli City Half Marathon

Napoli City Half Marathon is fastest half in Italy

Yaremchuk takes Italian national record

6uhamfap

Naples begins its journey towards being the European Capital of Sport in 2026 with an equalling of the Italian half marathon record by Sofiia Yaremchuk (CS Army) who with 1h08’27" finished second in the Napoli City Half Marathon.

The event now has the Italian male and female records, confirming itself as the fastest half marathon in Italy. The atmosphere was one of irrepressible enthusiasm under the sky of Naples. Almost six thousand runners from over 70 countries started from Viale JF Kennedy to run 21.097 km on a course full of emotions, beauty, and history with the blue of the Bay of Naples on one side and Vesuvius in the background on the other, it was a postcard of an exceptional weekend.

The leading group, made up of the Kenyans Brian Kwemoi Kirui, Bernard Kipkurui Biwott, Moses Koech and Charles Kamau Wanjiku, Antony Kimtai and the Britain Emile Cairess, paced very well by Rop Gideon Kiprotich, immediately set the right tempo, going through 2km in 5’45" (2’53"/km) and 3km in 8’22" (2’47"/km). The time at 5km was 13’59", with an average pace of 2’48"/km, on target to set a course record.

The pacemakers took the lead pack to 10km in 27’57" (2’47"/km) keeping the leaders on track. In the chasing group, a few seconds behind was the first of the Italians, Yassine Rachik who went through 10km in 30’05". Rop (Pace), Kimtai, Biwott and Cairess broke away and made up the leading group that went through 13km in 37’01", as the pace slowed slightly. At 15km the leading group went through in 42’05", with Cairess then dropping slightly off the pace. At one point Kimtai had 50m on Brian Kirui, but then with about 3 km to go, Kirui launched his attack, surging past Anthony Kimtai and suddenly creating a gap. The gap remained until the finish, where he crossed the line in 59’26" (2’49"/km), shaving 11" off his personal best, and equalling the course record. He was swiftly followed by his compatriots Anthony Kimtai in 59’45", who took 45" off his PB, and Bernard Kipkurui Biwott in 59’47".

First European, British athlete Emile Cairess said: "Today was a good step forward for me and I’m pleased with how I committed to the race. It’s frustrating not to have quite gone under the 1hour barrier, which was a big focus for me, but it proves I’m in good shape at this stage in my training. We hit 10km in 27:58 and 15km in 42:05, but the last 5km I got detached and was on my own, but I’m happy with how I continued to stay engaged in the race, and close the last section well. The Olympics are a major target this year, and my training is therefore focussed on the marathon, so this is a good indicator towards that’’.

In the leading group of women, the two Kenyans Angela Jemesunde Tanui and Nancy Chepleting Meli started out the race together, passing 6km in 18’44" (3’07"/km). Just before the halfway point, Tanui launched her attack and passed10km in 31’28" (3’09"/km) by which time she had a 26 second lead on Chepleting who went through in 31’54". A little further back was the first of the Italians Sofiia Yaremchuk who went through 10km in 32’16" (3’14"/km) slightly ahead of her personal best and on course for the Italian women’s record. Angela Tanui was in the end, on her own as the lead woman, relying only on the pacemaker for company, and she crossed the finish line in 1h07’04" (3’11"/km) shaving 12’’ off her personal best. “The race was easy at the beginning but then there was a bit of wind that slowed me down. However, I am satisfied, this is my new personal best,” commented the winner. Second place on the podium for the Italian Sofiia Yaremchuk (CS Army) who closes in 1h08’27" (3’15"/km) equalling the Italian women’s record. “It’s a wonderful emotion, Naples is always in my heart and brings me luck. The people are wonderful, the cheering of the crowd took me to the finish line with the Italian record,” said Sofiia Yaremchuk. “The race went very well, the preparation we did in Kenya paid off, it is a performance that gives us hope for the future, when we fly to Paris for the marathon’’. ’’Today Sofiia has acquired a new confidence”, commented Fabio Martelli, Sofiia Yaremchuk’s coach.

Third place went to Nancy Chepleting Meli who faded in the end and finished in 1h10’03".

Carlo Capalbo, president of the organizing company Napoli Running, was very excited, with tears in his eyes: “I am the happiest man in the world, six thousand people here at our beautiful race. Today we had the full package, we equalled the men’s race record, equalled the new Italian women’s record. Naples as the first city that holds them both. There were as well, many important personal bests, such as that of the winners, both male and female, and the final times of the winners were of the highest standard. These emotions are the result of a lot of work. If I go back to six years ago, when running stopped in Rome… Commitment, perseverance, collaboration, resources and a pinch of luck, today I can’t wait anymore. I want to thank all the institutions, the volunteers, my collaborators, the runners, the public for the trust they have placed in participating in this event, today all together we have written a new chapter in the history of this wonderful world of road running,” he concluded.

The great party of Napoli City Half Marathon is the result of the work, as well as of the organizing committee, of over 1000 volunteers who with a great participation spirit collaborate for this success. On the route there was also the energy and enthusiasm of the Afro-Brazilian percussion group PegaOnda while to guarantee safety there was the work of local institutions, Police Headquarters of Naples, Municipal Police, Italian Army, Fire Brigade, Technical Offices.

Result

Half marathon
Men
1 Brian KIRUI KEN 59:26
2 Anthony KIMTAI KEN 59:45
3 Bernard Kipkurui BIWOTT KEN 59:47
Women
1 Jemesunde TANUI KEN 1:07:04
2 Sofiia YAREMCHUK ITA 1:08:27
3 Nancy Chepleting MELI KEN 1:10:08

Race news The Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon

Peres Jepchirchir returns to RAK

Could “Koko” Klosterhalfen be the wild card to challenge Olympic champion?

Pc photo klosterhalfen jepchirchir tola

New regime, new course, but with Olympic and world champions and the usual array of speedsters, Saturday’s Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is virtually assured of the sort of fast times that have been a feature of the event throughout its 17 year history, including three women’s world records.

Pride of place both on the start list and at this morning’s press conference in one of the smaller emirates in the UAE were Olympic marathon and three time world half-marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, and keeping the balance in the long-term East African distance running rivalry, world marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia heads the men’s entry. The wild card, hoping to gatecrash the party is Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany, who surprised the East Africans when she beat a dozen of them to win her debut half-marathon in Valencia in 2022.

Jepchirchir may neither be the fastest marathoner or half-marathoner among current women long distance runners, but she knows how to win races, an asset far more valuable than fast times. In the seven months between late August 2021 and mid-April 2022, she won the Olympic, New York and Boston Marathons, a rare collective achievement. In her comeback marathon following an injury, she finished third in last year’s London Marathon. And she has won 12 of her 16 half-marathons. She is loath to admit her plans yet, but this RAK ‘half’ is perfectly scheduled as a springboard, to going back to London in April, to upgrade that third place.

Tola was similarly annoyed that an injury preventing him successfully defending his 2022 world marathon title in Budapest last summer, but a speedy recovery saw him break the long-standing New York Marathon record with 2.04.58 three months later. He is one of the few elites to be making his debut in the RAK ‘half’ and the scale of his task may be judged by the fact that on paper there are 15 men faster than his best of 59.37 set seven years ago in Prague. But he suggested that is due for drastic revision. ‘I’d like to think I can do under 59 minutes if the race turns out to be fast,’ he said at the press conference. Fastest man in the field is Daniel Mateiko of Kenya with 58.26, but his colleague Benard Kibet has the advantage of having won last year in 58.45.

Klosterhalfen, ‘Koko’ to her pals may prove to be not only the wild card, but the joker in the pack in the women’s race. A world bronze medallist on the track and European 5000 metres champion, the German called a halt to her summer season last year when a foot injury caused her to reassess her career. She had changed her shoe sponsor, left her coach and long-term training venue in the USA already. She then switched again and has teamed up with Gary Lough, latter-day coach to Mo Farah and spouse of former world record holder Paula Radcliffe (here in RAK as a TV commentator). Klosterhalfen has also switched her altitude training venue to Addis Ababa, where she has just spent six weeks, coming directly to here. ‘Road running is still a bit of an adventure for me’, she said this morning. ‘I still want to run on the track, but I want to do more road races’.

The roll-call of winners since the race began in 2007 is a ‘Who’s Who’ of distance running over the last two decades; beginning with Sammy Wanjiru and Berhane Adere in the inaugural race, via luminaries such as Patrick Makau, Geoffrey Mutai, Elvan Abeylegesse, Mary Keitany, Geoffrey Kamworor, Lelisa Desisa, Samson Kandie and Hellen Obiri. Add to that Jepchirchir herself who won in 2017 in a then world record of 65min 06sec.

The promoters of the successful marathon down the road in Dubai have been invited this year to give the RAK ‘half’ a makeover, and they began by introducing a 10k race for locals and altering the half-marathon course. ‘It’s faster and better than any route before here in Ras Al Khaimah; we’ve cut out some of the sharp turns,’ said race director Peter Connerton, ‘so we’re hoping for at least similar times and hopefully better. But with a couple of good races into the bargain’.

Race news Zurich Maratón de Sevilla

Eight national records set at Seville Marathon

World leading 2:03:27 and sixth fastest marathon of all time

 rcj1551

The Zurich Maraton de Sevilla has once again demonstrated its potential in another edition for the history books. The main protagonist was the Ethiopian Azmera Gebru, who won the race, setting the new race record (2h03:27), world leading result of the year, and making the Seville event the sixth fastest marathon race of all time.

The second classified, French athlete Morhad Amdouni (2h03:47) achieved the record of his country, getting closer to the European record (2h03:36).

12 runners have run under 2h08 and 24 women under 2h28, achieving up to eight national records, and the male world leading.

Ibrahim Chakir (2h07:48) and Esther Navarrete (2h24:40) are crowned Spanish champions and get the classification for the Olympic Games in Paris.

The podium of the men’s race, with up to 12 athletes under 2h08 in a new demonstration of the qualities of the flattest course in Europe, which invites athletes to fly over the Sevillian asphalt, was completed with the Israeli Gashau Ayale, who achieved the third place in 2h04:53 and, in the process, a new national record.

In addition to France and Israel, Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa, 4th with 2h06:06; Sweden’s Suldan Hassan, 10th with 2h07:36; Chile’s Carlos Martín, 18th with 2h08:04; and Macedonia’s Dario Ivanovski, 20th with 2h08:26, also achieved their respective national records.

Among the Spaniards, with the Spanish Championships at stake and the Olympic ticket for the winner, Ibrahim Shakir finished in a brilliant eleventh position and won the title. Going from strength to strength, the Soria-based athlete overtook his rivals for the national crown to cross the finish line with 2h07:48, the minimum time for the Games, where he guarantees his presence next summer.

Runner-up with 2h08:03 was Mohamed El Talhaoui, while the national record holder Ayad Lamdassem, who until the halfway point of the race was ambitious and set times that aspired to beat the national record (2h05:48), lowered the pace in the second part of the race to get the third place among the Spaniards with 2h09:43.

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Azmera Gebru was the winner clocking in 2h22:13. The African hegemony was maintained, completing the podium with the Kenyans Josephine Chepkoech (2h22:38) and Magdalyne Masai (2h22:51).

In the top ten of the women’s category, where up to 24 runners finished under 2 hours and 28 minutes, new national records for the French athlete Meline Rollin (7th, 2h24:12) and the Argentinean Florencia Borelli (8th, 2h24:18), which, by the way, means a new area record in South America.

As for the Spanish women, Esther Navarrete was more than brilliantly proclaimed Spanish champion in her debut over the distance. And she did so by obtaining the qualifying standard for the Olympic Games and a direct passport to Paris 2024 with a time of 2h24:40, three minutes faster the time required by the RFEA (2h28:00). In the final part of the race, she broke the head-to-head battle with the other great favourite to obtain the Olympic passport, Meritxell Soler, national runner-up with 2h24:57. Meanwhile, Clara Simal from Madrid (2h31:21) completed the podium of a women’s Spanish Championships to which the Andalusian Fátima Ouhaddou and María José Pérez from La Mancha also aspired, although they had to abandon for various reasons after the 21st kilometre.

The prelude to the start of the 39th Zurich Maraton de Sevilla was doubly emotional, with two tributes. First of all, the race wanted to pay tribute with 42 symbolic seconds of silence to the world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died just seven days before together with his coach in a traffic accident in Kenya.

Afterwards, Abel Antón was paid tribute to the 25th anniversary of the gold medal won by the athlete from Soria at the World Championships in Seville in 1999. In commemoration of that title, the medal of the current edition of the Zurich Maraton de Sevilla with which the finishers of the race have been recognised contains the iconic image of Abel Antón crossing the finish line in Seville, whose streets the best Spanish marathon runner of all times has run again this Sunday.

Result

marathon
Men
1 Deresa Geleta SULFATA ETH 2:03:27
2 Morhad AMDOUINI FRA 2:03:47
3 Gashau AYALE ISR 2:04:53
Women
1 Azmera GEBRU ETH 2:22:14
2 Josephine CHEPKOECH KEN 2:22:40
3 Magdalyne MASAI KEN 2:22:51

Race news SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne

SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne returns in 2024 with a new custom shirt

Coop Runners to participate again – High satisfaction rate for 2023

6730077c 3ca3 492e 978c cb7add0e3ae5

SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne has presented its 2024 custom shirt.

The Salomon Runner Shirt 2024 comes in “surf blue”. The specially created SwissCityMarathon design is discreet and stylish. The shirt is perfect for runs of all kinds – breathable, ultra-light and quick-drying. The SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne has created and produced this in co-operation with the Official Partner Salomon.

For participants in the marathon (42KM) and half marathon (21KM), the Runner Shirt is included in the registration fee. Participants in the CityRun 10KM and CharityRun 10KM can purchase the Runner Shirt 2024 optionally for CHF 25.00 when registering.

Preparations for the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne are in full swing and the Coop Runners are taking part again this year. Consisting of Coop employees from various departments, Coop is not only participating as a presenting partner, but is also at the front of the race!

Finally, the results of the runner survey 2023 are in:

- Recommendation rate of 96%
- Renewed Participation in the marathon 93%
- Atmosphere on the course score 5.7
- Best Memories: Spectators, finish area and musical entertainment
- Overall impression score 5.6

Race news The Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon

Konstanze Klosterhalfen goes for RAK Half

Challenge for German runner as she goes up against record breaker Jepchirchir

Konstanze klosterhalfen cropped

Konstanze Klosterhalfen is one of the few Europeans who have successfully challenged East African superiority in long distance running in recent years; but the German star will have a mass challenge from Kenyans and Ethiopians in her next venture, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on Saturday February 24.

The reigning European 5000 metres champion, ‘Koko’ to her fans, won bronze in the World Championships at that same distance in 2019, but her debut victory over a posse of leading East Africans in the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2022 signalled not only a step-up in prestige but also potential for success in the full marathon. And RAK in nine days’ time will be another stepping stone.

The RAK ‘half’ has been one of the fastest 21.1k races in the world since its inception 17 years ago in one of the smaller emirates in the UAE. The list of winners and record breakers reads like a ‘who’s who’ of distance running. Leading this year’s women’s field and a formidable opponent for Klosterhalfen is reigning Olympic marathon champion and three-time world ‘half’ winner, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, who set a then world record of 65:06 when she ran RAK in 2017. Burgeoning competition and the advent of super-shoes has resulted in that record now standing at 62.52, to Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia.

Klosterhalfen’s debut win in Valencia came in 65:41; and with another former world record holder – Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia (64:31) in the RAK field, the German will not have an easy task, the more so since she took a break in the second half of last summer season, and has not raced for six months. She was understandably cautious this week when she said, ‘Overall I am happy with how my training has been going and I’m ready to test myself and see exactly where I am after a good training camp. I’m certainly looking forward to returning to racing, especially at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon as it is a race I’ve heard a lot about.’

Klosterhalfen spends a lot of time training at altitude in the USA, and in her quieter moments has graced the catwalk at Berlin Fashion Week, and also plays piano and flute; but running full tilt for just over an hour before breakfast will be the order of the morning a week on Saturday.

Race news Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Nagoya Women’s Marathon announces elite field

Gotytom Gebreslase will run in world’s largest women’s marathon

Gettyimages 1639515082

The Nagoya Women’s Marathon announced today the world’s top women athletes who will compete in the 13th edition of the race to be held on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

The leading names in the field are Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia, world champion in Oregon in 2022 with a personal best of 2:18:11 and Silver Medallist in Budapest in 2023, and Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain, Asian Games Champion of 2023 in Hangzhou, who has a personal best of 2:20:02.

The competitor list also includes many outstanding international athletes such as Delvine Relin Meringor of Romania, Violah Cheptoo of Kenya, Giovanna Epis of Italy, Eloise Wellings of Australia, Camille French of New Zealand, and others representing China and Puerto Rico.

The local athletes who will face them from Japan are Ai Hosoda, the third-place finisher in the Marathon Grand Championship, Japan’s domestic qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics, who set a personal best of 2:21:42 in the 2022 London Marathon, the 2020 Tokyo Olympians Ayuko Suzuki in the marathon and Yuka Ando in the 10,000m, and 2023 Budapest World Championship competitor Rika Kaseda, all of whom have personal best records under 2:22 and will be vying for the final spot in Japan’s marathon team for the Paris Olympics.

Anyone who beats the Japanese record of 2:18:59 – just set this January for the first time in 19 years – will qualify for Paris.

The pacemakers driving the high-speed race include Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya, who has a personal best of 2:17:29.

The Nagoya Women’s Marathon is not only one of the world’s fastest elite competitions as a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, but it is also known as the world’s largest women’s marathon and a unique festival to celebrate women runners. All finishers will receive an event-exclusive Tiffany & Co. pendant as a token of their achievement. The 2024 race will take place in Nagoya, Japan, on March 10 with 20,000 runners, while a virtual race is currently held from February 10 through March 31, which can be participated in anywhere in the world via a running app.

Lives remembered

Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in road accident at 24

Kenyan runner was expected to achieve even greater feats

Kiptum chicago gettyimages 1724360155

The world record holder in the men’s marathon, Kelvin Kiptum, and his coach have died in a road accident in Kenya.

The accident took place on Sunday night in the west of Kenya about 300km north of the capital Nairobi. Kiptum, who was driving, and his coach Garvais Hakizimana were killed instantly. Another passenger identified as Sharon Kosgey survived the crash and was taken to hospital.

Kiptum ran his first marathon in December 2022 in Valencia in 2:01:53. He then won the London Marathon less than a year ago in 2:01:25, the third fastest time ever run for the distance, before setting his world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago six months later, beating Eliud Kipchoge’s existing world record by 24 seconds. He was currently training for the Rotterdam Marathon in April where it was widely believed that he could become the first man to run a sub-two hour marathon in open competition.

AIMS President Paco Borao said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Kelvin Kiptum. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time of tragedy. He was a young man who had already achieved so much but was clearly capable of more in what should have been a long and successful career.”

Race news hella hamburg half marathon

hella hamburg halbmarathon has new charity partner

Partnership with inclusive street magazine

1 johannes schoelermann hella hinz kunzt

This summer the hella hamburg half marathon is celebrating a big anniversary. On Sunday, June 30, 2024, thousands of runners and skaters will set out on the 21.0975 kilometres through the city on the river Elbe for the 30th time.

As if that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, Hinz&Kunzt The Hamburg Street Magazine will now be the official charity partner of the event. When registering, participants have the opportunity to make a voluntary donation to the social project.

The monthly Hinz&Kunzt is Germany’s highest-circulation street magazine and does lobbying work for the homeless and socially disadvantaged people. The magazine is created by professionals and distributed by people in precarious life situations. People with few opportunities on the job market are offered unbureaucratic employment, which also promotes contact between the homeless and others. In this way, fears of contact between rich and poor are reduced.

The continued existence of the non-profit self-help project depends on the support of third parties. The majority of the funds required come from donations. Only a third comes from advertising and sales revenue. The magazine, which also celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, is pleased about the collaboration. “Every donation is a sign of solidarity and sets an example against poverty and exclusion,” said Sybille Arendt, press spokeswoman for Hinz&Kunzt.

The organizer BMS The Running Society is also proud to have a charitable institution on its side. “We were looking for a suitable partner with whom we have a long tradition and proximity to the street. Hinz&Kunzt not only makes an important contribution to the integration of socially disadvantaged people, but through its sales model it also promotes the reduction of prejudices against the approximately 2,000 homeless people living in Hamburg. We are hoping for a large donation cheque, which we can present to the social employment project on behalf of the participants on the 30th anniversary,” said Steven Richter, managing director of the race organisation.

At this point in time, more than 6,600 active participants have registered. More will be added by June 30, 2024. On the day of the event, over 12,000 athletes from all over the world are expected. The hella hamburg half marathon would thus underline its position as the second largest event of its kind in Germany behind the Berlin Half Marathon.

Race news Thai Sikh Run

Thai Sikh Run: embracing tradition, building community

Bangkok race run for 28th time

Faa 0169

In 1992, the Thai Sikh Run took its inaugural steps, courtesy of Siri Guru Singh Sabha, marking the beginning of a cherished tradition. Initially offering a 10k route alongside a 5k walk, the event quickly garnered attention, drawing participants from diverse backgrounds to the starting line.

Rooted in the heart of Bangkok’s inner city, the run meanders past iconic landmarks such as the Grand Palace, Sanam Luang, Defense Ministry, and Democracy Monument, offering runners a scenic journey through the city’s historical tapestry.

Elevating its stature, the event has been graced by esteemed figures including the Bangkok Governor, Senators, Ambassadors, and high-ranking officials, underscoring its significance within the community.

A milestone moment arrived on the 20th anniversary when the Thai Sikh Run embraced the challenge of a half marathon distance (21.1k), attracting a surge of enthusiastic participants eager to test their mettle. Recognition from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) in 2020 further validated the event’s credentials, certifying both the 21.1k and 10k distances.

In a bid to foster inclusivity and inspire the next generation, the 26th edition introduced the inaugural Thai Sikh Kid Run, a 500-meter sprint designed to ignite the spirit of young runners. Additionally, the 27th Thai Sikh Run marked a moment of branding evolution, with the introduction of a standardized run logo, setting the stage for future events.

Not content to rest on its laurels, the Thai Sikh community has recently expanded its horizons, with Sikh runners making their mark in the esteemed ranks of the Ironman competition.

The 28th Thai Sikh Run, held on February 4th, 2024, showcased outstanding performances from participants across categories. Notable highlights included a stellar 1:10:22 finish for the first overall male in the 21.1k race and a commendable 1:27:15 finish for the first overall female. In the 10k category, participants demonstrated their prowess, with the top male crossing the line in 0:37:51 and the top female in 0:38:59.

As the Thai Sikh Run continues to evolve, it remains a testament to the enduring spirit of community, tradition, and athletic excellence, with each edition serving as a beacon of inspiration for runners of all ages and backgrounds.

Date changes Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Race date for Bank of America Chicago Marathon (USA) changed

Bank of America Chicago Marathon date change

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon (USA) will take place on Sun 13 October 2024, not Mon 14 October 2024 as previously published.

Race news Haspa Marathon Hamburg

Defending champion Koech returns to Hamburg

But Tola and Mailu could challenge last year’s winner

Koech bernard 23 by henning angerer

Defending champion and course record holder Bernard Koech will return for the 38th edition of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 28th April.

The 36 year-old Kenyan, who improved the course best to 2:04:09 last year, will face very strong opponents in Germany’s major spring marathon. Samwel Mailu of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Abdisa Tola, who both produced breakthrough performances in 2023, will challenge the defending champion. There will be another former winner of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg returning to the race: Martin Musau (UGA) was the winner in 2021.

“After two course records in a row we can look forward to another high quality men’s race. Bernard Koech, Samwel Mailu and Abdisa Tola are all capable of running world-class times on the fast course. We are happy that these three have chosen Hamburg for their spring marathon,” said chief organiser Frank Thaleiser, who expects a total of around 12,000 marathon runners on 28th April. Online registration for the race is still possible at: www.haspa-marathon-hamburg.de

“I am looking forward to returning to Hamburg. Last year’s victory was a perfect comeback performance for me, because I had problems for some time and there were the Corona lockdowns as well,” said Bernard Koech, who tied his two year-old personal best of 2:04:09 last year in Hamburg. However, after achieving his biggest career victory in that race the Kenyan was unlucky when he ran the Amsterdam Marathon in autumn. An injury forced him to drop out of the race. Looking ahead to his Hamburg return Bernard Koech said: “Although I broke the course record last year I believe that I can still run faster in Hamburg.”

A fast pace should suit Samwel Mailu, who wants to improve his personal best. The Kenyan newcomer, who is already 31 years old, stormed to a sensational course record of 2:05:08 despite warm weather conditions at the Vienna Marathon last spring. Later that year he produced another exceptional performance. Added to the Kenyan team at very short notice Samwel Mailu took the bronze medal at the World Half Marathon Championships in Riga, Latvia. “I chose Hamburg for my spring marathon because of the fast course. Hopefully I can improve my current 2:05 personal best to 2:04,” said Samwel Mailu.

23 year-old Ethiopian Abdisa Tola will be another top contender on 28th April. The younger brother of Tamirat Tola, the World Marathon Champion from 2021 and current New York Marathon winner, ran a stunning marathon debut a year ago: Abdisa Tola won the competitive Dubai Marathon in 2:05:42.

Besides Bernard Koech there will be another runner in the elite field who has already won the Haspa Marathon Hamburg: Martin Musau of Uganda took the race with 2:10:15 in 2021, when the fields were much reduced due to the pandemic. It was last year in Hamburg, when Musau improved to a fine 2:08:45 and finished in seventh position.

Race news The Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon

Tola heads more stellar names for RAK Half

Tura and Yeshaneh will run too

Tamirat tola

Former world marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia has confirmed his participation in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on February 24; and heads back to the area where he emerged as a world class road runner when winning the neighbouring Dubai Marathon in 2017.

Chicago Marathon winner Seifu Tura and former women’s half marathon world record holder, Ababel Yeshaneh will also be joining their compatriot in RAK. The entry for the 17th edition of the event is expected to read like a Who’s Who of international distance running, as a wealth of elite runners seek to take advantage of the benign Gulf conditions in the countdown for the spring marathons and the Paris Olympics.

Having won Olympic bronze on the track at Rio 2016, Tola established himself as one of the leading road runners of his generation when he won Dubai 2017, and followed that up with silver at the World Championships in London later that year. He won world marathon gold in Eugene 2022, but in the interim he won Amsterdam Marathon 2021, and then topped that with victory in the New York City Marathon three months ago. He has also finished third in the Tokyo and London Marathons in 2022. His fastest half marathon was a winning performance in 59:37 in Prague 2017. His close family also keeps him on his toes; his wife Dera Dida won the Dubai Marathon 2023, and his younger brother Abdisa took the corresponding men’s title.

It’s a measure of the fast course in RAK that his compatriot Tura has run over a minute faster than Tola, but his 58:36 in 2022 was only good for fourth. But a victory and second place in the Chicago Marathon has bolstered his credentials.

Ababel Yeshaneh returns to the scene of one of her greatest victories, having set a world record of 64:31 in winning on the spectacular course around Al Marjan Island in the 2020 race. That time remains her personal best at the distance, although in the full marathon she also has two runner-up finishes to her name in Chicago 2019 and Boston 2022, as well as a third place finish at the New York Marathon 2021.

The three Ethiopians will join elite fields that already include men’s defending champion Benard Kibet of Kenya (58:45) and his colleague, reigning Olympic Marathon Champion and three-time World Half Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir, who set her best half marathon in winning RAK 2017 in a then world record of 65:06.

Date changes Eilat Desert Marathon

Race date for Eilat Desert Marathon (ISR) changed

Eilat Desert Marathon date change

The Eilat Desert Marathon (ISR) will take place on Fri 29 November 2024, not Fri 2 February 2024 as previously published.

Race news Sarmang Dehradun Marathon

Dehradun moves to last weekend of September

Organisers hope for a new course record

90

Organisers of the Sarmang Dehradun Marathon say they are “thrilled” to unveil the date for the third edition set to take place on September 29, 2024.

Breaking from tradition and moving the event to September’s final week accommodates a more runner-friendly environment, departing from the usual October timeline due to the Indian National Games taking place in Dehradun.

This shift also provides an amazing opportunity for participants to experience the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Dehradun first hand, amidst pleasant weather and breathtaking landscapes.

In an exciting update, the Sarmang Dehradun Marathon has been recognised as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group Qualifier, opening doors for participants to qualify and compete globally. Organised by Sarmang Society in collaboration with Sarmang Adventure Tours, this esteemed event is directed by the highly respected RRCA certified race director Anil Mohan. The founder of Sarmang Adventure Tours and Secretary of Sarmang Society brings his wealth of experience and passion for running to ensure a world-class marathon experience for all participants.

Anticipating an increased turnout from defense services, we’re honored to welcome more participants from this esteemed sector. Additionally, our fervent hope for the 3rd edition is to witness a groundbreaking moment – a new course record for the Full Marathon (42.195 KM). The current record stands at an impressive 2:30:31, a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of our runners.

This event, certified by World Athletics and proud member of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), has consistently attracted diverse international participants, celebrating athleticism, determination, and unity.

Stay tuned for further details and registration information as we prepare for another remarkable edition of the Sarmang Dehradun Marathon. Lace up your shoes and prepare for an unforgettable running experience amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Dehradun!

Date changes 642 Marathon

Race date for 642 Marathon (KUW) changed

642 Marathon date change

The 642 Marathon (KUW) will take place on Sun 3 March 2024, not Sat 20 January 2024 as previously published.

Race news Reggae Marathon - the Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

New 5K race added at Reggae Marathon

Shorter route joins 10K and half marathon

The 2024 Reggae Marathon, Jamaica’s premier long-distance road race, is set to take place on Sunday, December 8th in Negril, Jamaica.

Organizers have unveiled a major highlight for this year’s event – the introduction of a new 5K race, that will run alongside the event’s usual 10K and half marathon.

Race Director Alfred “Frano” Francis shared his enthusiasm for the 5K addition, stating, “We’ve upped the excitement by introducing a 5K event alongside the already fantastic 10K and half marathon races. Now, participants can begin with the 5K and progressively take on the challenges of the 10K and half marathon. This inclusive move has ignited a whirlwind of enthusiasm among both corporate teams and individuals. Get ready to feel the rhythm and embark on this remarkable journey!”

The 5K race enhances the accessibility of the Reggae Marathon, catering to seasoned runners, walkers, and newcomers seeking a distinctive fitness experience in the heart of Jamaica. The 5K route commences at Long Bay Beach Park, heading towards Negril’s aerodrome, concluding at the same, beachside finish line as its counterparts. The predominantly flat course is IAAF certified, ensuring a top-tier race for all participants.

Now in its 24th year, the Reggae Marathon has earned recognition as a well-organized international event with a strong emphasis on participant enjoyment. Overseas participants can seamlessly blend their passion for running or walking with an island vacation, creating an unparalleled and unforgettable experience.

Participants can anticipate commemorative finisher medals, official Reggae Marathon t-shirts, and a total prize pool exceeding USD 10,000. The prestigious Bob Marley and Rita Marley trophies await the male and female champions of the Reggae Half Marathon. Special prize categories include recognition for High School Boys and Girls in the 10K, as well as Teams in the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon.

Beyond the thrilling races, the Reggae Marathon immerses participants in the vibrant world of Jamaican music. From Reggae to Calypso and Afrobeats, music is woven into the event’s fabric. Each year, the marathon showcases talented Reggae acts, and while this year’s headliner remains undisclosed, previous editions have seen the likes of Grammy winner Kabaka Pyramid taking the stage.

The Reggae Marathon boasts a trove of glowing testimonials from past participants who have lauded the event’s organization, entertainment, and unique ambiance. Its international acclaim includes being voted “International Race of the Year” by UK Men’s Running magazine and receiving a “Highly Commended” accolade in the Women’s Running International Race of the Year category.

For those unable to attend in person, virtual race options are available, extending participation to runners and walkers worldwide.

This year, the Reggae Marathon also continues its commitment to charitable causes by partnering with the Heart Foundation of Jamaica and actively promoting fundraising for other charitable endeavors. The event offers opportunities for volunteers from diverse Jamaican communities, enabling young individuals to participate in a global event.

Date changes

Date changes for Krakow races

Cracovia Marathon a week earlier, Royal Half two weeks later

The Cracovia Marathon (POL) will take place on Sun 14 April 2024, not Sun 21 April 2024 as previously published.

The Cracovia Royal Half Marathon (POL) will take place on Sun 20 October 2024, not Sun 6 October 2024 as previously published.

Date changes Split Marathon

Race date for Split Marathon (CRO) changed

Split Marathon date change

The Split Marathon (CRO) will take place on Sun 25 February 2024, not Sat 24 February 2024 as previously published.

Race news The Ras al Khaimah Half Marathon

Stars descend on Ras Al Khaimah Half

Jepchirchir and Kibet will run

Peres jepchirchir4

Olympic women’s marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, and last year’s men’s winner, Benard Kibet are just the first two of what is expected to be a constellation of stars at the Ras Al Khaimah Half-Marathon on Saturday, February 24.

Jepchirchir’s quality is underlined not only by her Olympic win in Tokyo, but also by her three world half-marathon titles, and the considerable feat of being the only woman to simultaneously hold the Olympic, New York and Boston marathon titles, which she achieved in the seven months between August 2021 and April 2022. For good measure, when she won this RAK ‘half’ in 2017, it was in a then world record of 65min 06sec, which remains her best time.

Her compatriot Kibet is one of many Kenyans who, over the years have been recruited to run on one of Japan’s corporate teams. He is similarly unusual in being one of the diminishing number of athletes who combine track with road running. He is a 13min 5000 metre runner and has several 10,000 metre clockings just over 27mins. But his victory last year in RAK in 58.45 put him in the top ten for the year.

Since its inauguration in 2007, the RAK race has proved to be one of the fastest half-marathons on the international circuit. Ras Al Khaimah is one of the smallest of the seven emirates which constitute the United Arab Emirates. And, though the competitors will have other things on their mind, the race is run around the spectacular sea-side circuit on the gorgeous promontory of Marjan Island. Online entry is still possible at: https://rakcalendar.ae

Given that the RAK race is less than six weeks away, that also means a rapid turnaround for event organisers Pace Events, who have been invited by the RAK Tourist Development Authority to take over the event in the wake of their successful stewardship of the Dubai Marathon, whose latest edition, just eight days ago, featured the fastest women’s debut in history, 2.16.07 for Tigist Ketema of Ethiopia.

Race Director and Pace Events CEO Peter Connerton said today, ‘We were honoured and enormously gratified to be invited by the Ras Al Khaimah tourist authorities to organise an event like the RAK half-marathon. We feel it’s a reflection of the success we’ve had with the Dubai Marathon since 2000. We’ve added a 10k to the RAK programme since we’ve seen how successful the shorter event has been in Dubai; either as a challenge in its own right, or as a stepping stone for runners on the way to a half or full marathon. Peres Jepchirchir and Benard Kibet are the first of many leading names we shall be announcing for the RAK ‘half’ in the coming weeks”.

For online entry and more information please visit: https://rakcalendar.ae or contact Alan Ewens – alan.ewens@pace-events.org

Race news 10K Valencia Ibercaja

Agnes Ngetich sets new 10km world record

Top Kenyan runner beats previous 29:14 record by 28s

Wr def 1

Agnes Ngetich (KEN) stunned the world again in Valencia by setting a new 10km world record of 28:46.

This is 28 seconds faster than the 29:14 record run by Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) in Castellon last February, and a massive 40 seconds faster than the 29:26 time she herself ran in Lille just two months ago.

Result

10km
Men
1 Jacob KIPLIMO UGA 26:48
2 Birhanu BALEW XXX 26:57
3 Peter AILA XXX 26:59
4 Dennis KITIYO XXX 27:01
5 Dominic LOBALU XXX 27:13
Women
1 Agnes NGETICH KEN 28:46
2 Emmaculate Anyango ACHOL XXX 28:57
3 Lilian RENGERUK XXX 29:32
4 Janeth CHEPNGETICH XXX 29:55
5 Joy CHEPTOYEK XXX 30:03

Race news Nepalgunj Marathon

Gopi triumphs at Nepalgunj marathon

200,000 NPR prize for winner

0u7a2793

Nepal APF Club’s Gopi Chandra Parki won the Nepalgunj Marathon and Santoshi Shrestha completed her hat-trick in women’s half marathon on November 25.

Gopi – who won the 13th South Asian Games gold medal in the 5,000m race – completed the 42.195km distance in two hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds for his second title in Nepalgunj. Defending champion Khadag Bahadur Khadka of Tribhuvan Army Club came second in 2:22:09, while the 13th SAG’s marathon gold medallist Kiran Bogati finished third in 2:25:44.

Gopi won the sixth edition title in his first appearance in 2019 with his personal best timing of 2:18:59. Gopi said the Nepalgunj Marathon was the best of the events of the country, in terms of route, which is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). “It has already become a brand and athletes also get a lot of opportunities after taking part in the event," said Parki, indicating the organisers’ announcement of sending the best athletes to the London Marathon.
Along with the title, Parki received Rs 200,000, while Khadka and Bogati earned Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. Sontosh Bikram Bista, Mohan Dev GC, Prem Basnet, Sher Bahadur Budha, Ajay BK and Rudra Budhathoki finished from fourth to ninth and they also received cash prizes.

In the women’s half marathon, the 13th SAG 10,000m race gold medal winner, Santoshi from Dhading completed the hat-trick with third consecutive title. Santoshi completed the race in one hour and 20 minutes and 52 seconds. Fulmati Rana came second in 1:21:09, while the sixth edition winner Pushpa Bhandari was third in 1:23:35.

Santoshi, who also won the seventh and eighth edition titles, lauded the organisers, Creative Hands, for the route. “The best part of the event is the route and the organisers have also managed the traffic very well unlike in other marathon events,” she said. Top three athletes in the women’s half marathon received Rs 75,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. Bindra Dhanke Shrestha, Rajya Laxmi Rawal and Ganana Bhandari finished fourth to sixth respectively and they also received cash prizes.

Karnali Province athletes Durga Budha and Ram Maya Budha won the 10km open races. Durga won the men’s section event in 31:15.36, finishing ahead of Narendra Singh Raut and Dharma Maharjan. Ram Maya came first in the women’s section with the timing of 37:49.77, while Asha Rawat and Mansara Budha came second and third respectively. Top three athletes in both sections earned Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

Dipendra Bohara and Kalpana Budha won the 5km races for students of Banke. Yagya Bahadur Khatri, Rohit Kumar Tamoli and Shumsher Ali Behena won top three spots in the men’s wheelchair race, while Deu Kumari Tharu and Shyam Kali Tharu were first and second in the women’s section. Yogesh Malla won the 5km corporate run.
The annual event was organised by Creative Hands to mark the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government and the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on November 21, 2006 ending the decade-long insurgency.

Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Prashant Bista, Kohalpur Municipality Mayor Purna Acharya, Lumbini Province Sports Council Member Secretary Jay Prakash Bhattarai, KL Dugar CEO Pradeep Chhajed and Director Sourav Dugar, and Creative Hands Founder President TS Thakuri among others handed over the prizes to the winners.

Result

marathon
Men
1 Gopi Chandra PARKI NEP 2:21:39
2 Khadag Bahadur KHADKA NEP 2:22:09
3 Kiran BOGATI NEP 2:25:44
Half marathon
Women
1 Santoshi SHRESTHA NEP 1:20:52
2 Fulmati RANA NEP 1:21:09
3 Pushpa BHANDARI NEP 1:23:35

Date changes Photak Marathon

Race date for Photak Marathon (THA) changed

Photak Marathon date change

The Photak Marathon (THA) will take place on Sun 22 December 2024, not Sun 29 December 2024 as previously published.

Partners

For further information on our partners, click on the logos above.

Keep up to date!

For the latest race dates please consult the official online AIMS calendar.

You can also subscribe to the AIMS calendar in your calendaring application of choice, whether on your phone, tablet or computer. Simply subscribe to webcal://aims-worldrunning.org/events.ics in your calendar app.

AIMS
the home of world running™

AIMS Headquarters | OACA Olympic Complex | Av Spyros Louis, Athens, Greece | © AIMS 2024

Powered by Distance Running Limited