Record 85,000 runners take part in Athens Authentic Marathon as Ethiopia's Taferi wins
Athens welcomed a record number of participants at the 43rd Authentic Marathon on Sunday, as more than 85,000 runners from 124 countries took part in the main race and accompanying events across the weekend.
Nearly 25,000 runners started the 42.195-kilometer race from the town of Marathon at 8:30 a.m., heading towards the historic Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens.
Ethiopia's Manazot Siyum Taferi claimed victory in the men's marathon with a time of 2:10:03, setting a new course record and improving on the previous mark of 2:10:34, established by Kenya's Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo in 2023.
Ethiopian runners dominate men's race
Taferi was followed by compatriot Asefa Tefera Mengisa, who finished second in 2:10:18.
Kenya's Patrick Ketter Kiplagat secured third place in 2:11:22, followed by compatriot Vincent Kipsang Rono in 2:12:06. Eritrea's Nguse Amlosom Tesfaldet completed the top five with 2:12:20.
Kostas Stamoulis of Agrinio Sports Club was the first Greek athlete to finish, taking eighth place overall with 2:17:37.
His compatriot Charalampos Pitsolis of Ilissos Sports Club finished ninth in 2:18:58, while Nikos Stamoulis, also representing Agrinio, placed 10th in 2:19:05.
Ethiopia also takes women's title
Ethiopia's Yatane Kormoshe Dusha won the women's marathon in 2:30:04, narrowly ahead of compatriot Tsiyong Abebe Temesgen, who finished in 2:30:29.
US runner Jane Kepkemboi Bareikis took third place in 2:32:59, followed by Ethiopia's Atsede Baysa Tesema in 2:33:10 and Kenya's Millicent Jemutai Kibet in 2:35:10.
Stamatia Noula of Thessaloniki's Iraklis 1908 was the first Greek woman across the finish line, finishing sixth overall in 2:35:13.
Another Greek athlete, representing the Hellenic Navy team and Neapoli of Thessaloniki, secured seventh place in 2:36:28.
Greek athletes shine in 10-kilometer race
Earlier on Sunday, the 10-kilometer race started on Vassilissis Amalias Avenue in Syntagma Square and finished at the Panathenaic Stadium.
Panagiotis Petroulakis won the men's competition in 29:40, setting a new race record.
Anastasia Marinakou claimed the women's title in 33:09, securing her sixth consecutive victory in the event.
Weekend celebrates running and inclusion
The marathon weekend began on Saturday with two 5-kilometer events: a general race at 5 p.m. and the Universities Night Run at 8 p.m.
The programme also featured 1,200-meter races for children, Special Olympics athletes and people with disabilities.
The main marathon started under favourable weather conditions, with temperatures around 12 degrees Celsius in Marathon, humidity near 60% and relatively light winds.
The starting signal was given by Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) President Sofia Sakorafa and Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias.
The 43rd edition once again transformed Athens into an international running destination, combining competitive athletics, mass participation and the historic legacy of the marathon.\
Source:AMNA
