Kenyan runner Gilbert Kipletting Chumba is the winner of the 38th Belgrade Marathon, becoming the first athlete to successfully defend a title won the previous year. Never before in the history of the race in Serbia’s capital has anyone won two years in a row, and the Kenyan ran the 42.195-kilometer course in two hours, 11 minutes, and 22 seconds.
Second place went to Shengo Kebede Liev from Ethiopia with a time of 2:11:35, while third was Matthew Kiplagat at 2:12:12.
Chumba was practically without competition in the final stretch, but the race was still thrilling as he narrowly missed breaking the course record by just a few seconds.
He was so exhausted after crossing the finish line that medical staff had to intervene and carry him to provide assistance.
Kenyan athlete Deboar Sang also made history on the streets of the Serbian capital. She was the fastest among women with a time of 2:26:48, the best course time ever recorded. Not only did she leave her competition far behind, but she also broke the previous course record by an impressive three minutes.
In the half-marathon, two Serbian women made it to the podium. First place went to Jacinta Kavindu from Kenya with a time of 1:13:18, while second place went to Ivana Žiković, born in 1991. Ivana completed the 21-kilometer race in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Third place was taken by Ana Jovićević with a time of 1:24:56, and fourth was Marina Vasileva, also from Serbia, with a time of 1:27:36.
Among men in the half-marathon, the winner was Michael Mualuko from Kenya with a time of 1:03:43. Second was Demisu Anegagrend Gameda from Ethiopia, also with a time of 1:03:43, and third was Abdela Godana Gemeda, also from Ethiopia, at 1:05:06.
More than 14,000 runners from 74 countries participated in the 38th Belgrade Marathon on Sunday. The Belgrade Family Days will continue until June 1, and significant changes to city traffic are expected.
In the relay marathon, the Serbian Armed Forces took the win. The best Serbian marathoner this year at the 38th edition of the Belgrade Marathon was Đuro Borbelj with a time of 2:31:20.
In the half-marathon, Michael Mualuko was the fastest with a time of 1:03:38.
This year’s marathon carries the slogan “Always More,” and as previously announced by the organizers, it is expected to be the largest running event in the entire region, with over 14,000 registered runners.
The marathon and half-marathon race start was scheduled for 8:00 AM in front of the Church of Saint Mark, with the finish line at Terazije near Hotel Moskva. The time limit for the race is six hours.
As always, the marathon will affect traffic in Belgrade.
The city’s secretary for defense affairs, emergency situations, and coordination, Darko Glavaš, emphasized that a joint effort by the city and state was made to ensure that the most massive sports event in Serbia proceeds smoothly.
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Source, Foto: Sputnik / Lola Đorđević