EDP Lisbon Marathon returns with course record

Starting in Cascais and finishing at Praça do Comércio, the course is 100% sea and river side, providing to the runners an unique view along the race.

The Ethiopian athlete ran isolated during the last kilometers and even made a final “sprint” with the goal in sight, finishing in 2:05:52, a personal best and setting a course record surpassing by eight seconds the previous record (2:06:00), which already belonged to him.

Kenyan Hosea Kiplimo (2:07:39) finished in second place, while Ethiopian Yihunligne Amsalu (2:07:54) took third place on the podium.

At the end of the race, the athlete was pleased with his triumph “especially with his personal record and race record”, stating that he can do even better when he joins “the atmospheric conditions on the course”, as he felt some wind pressure.

Regarding the women’s event, a new Ethiopian triumph, by Asayech Bere, who also surpassed his personal record, setting it at 2:25:07, in a categorical triumph, leaving his compatriot Almaz Fekade in second place, by more than two minutes (2:27:14). The podium was closed by Kenyan Jane Lagat Seurey (2:28:35).

The best Portuguese at the EDP Lisbon Marathon were Edgar Matias, who finished in 13th place, with 2:29:15, and Joana Fonseca, 10th place, with 2:44:43.

In the other race, the Luso Half Marathon, the winner was Ethiopian Gerba Dibaba, in 1:01:21, ahead of Isaac Temoi, from Kenya (1:01:23), and Awet Habte, from Eritrea (1:02:11).

Excellent race of the Portuguese Samuel Barata (Benfica), who crossed the finish line in 1:02:49 minutes, being the best Portuguese runner, in sixth place. Miguel Borges, from Benfica, was 8th (1:04:55) and Fábio Oliveira, from S. João da Serra, was 9th (1:05:02).

In women’s race, the confirmation of the four Ethiopian triumphs, with Ethlemahu Dessi crossing the finish line in 1:10:48, ahead of Dolshi Teklegergish (Eritrea), who ran in 1:10:59. The Ethiopian Gete Teklemichael (1:13.33) completed the podium, ahead of the Portuguese Solange Jesus, from Feirense (4th, in 1:15.25), Sara Duarte, from São João da Serra (5th, in 1:20.24), and Marisa Barros, from Salgueiros (6th, at 1:20.27).

At the end of the competition, at the press conference, Carlos Moia was “very happy for the return of the competition and the beginning of a kind of normal life and an atmosphere of celebration”. More satisfaction for the result of the “efforts we made, ensuring to these athletes the conditions that led them to another competition record and the best marathon mark ever achieved on national marathons”.