The ‘African legion’, led by Kenyans Samuel Kosgeydefending its title from the last edition, and the Ethiopian Tadelech Bekele German start as favorites for victory in the 43rd edition of the Zurich Barcelona Marathonwhich will take place this Sunday, at 8:00 a.m., and where both seek to beat the trial record.
The race already has 8,056 registered runners (2,014 women), including about 2,700 foreigners from 86 different countries.
In the last edition, held on November 7, 2021, Kosgei, 36, set a new record for the race with his victory, with a time of 2:06:03. crushed at his personal best in ten minutes.
In the absence of young Ethiopian Tadu Teshome, who also broke the women’s record last year to set it at 2:23:53, the favorite was his 31 -year -old compatriot Tadelech Bekele Alemu.
Bekele Alemu has won the Amsterdam marathon twice (2017 and 2018) and arrived at the event with a personal best 2h.21: 40, achieving his third place in the 2018 London marathon.
The big problem of this edition, which advanced its departure by half an hour, was the weather. Last year, records were broken with temperatures of 8-9ºC, and for this Sunday, temperatures over 15ºC are expected at the exit.which can reach 20ºC after two hours, and sunny skies, which can complicate the race.
However, the Barcelona marathon was able to put together, among the favorites, a high level of cast.
In the male category is Kenyan veteran Abel Kiriu, 39, silver medalist in London 2012double world champion of distance and has a personal best 2:05:09 (Rotterdam 2009).
With him, he will join young Ethiopian Kindie Derseh, winner of the 2021 San Sebastian marathonwhere he achieved his personal best (2h.12: 11), and was fourth in the last half marathon in Barcelona with a time of 59:18.
The three Ethiopian runners will also start as contenders for the victory: Ayantu Kumela25 years old and winner of the Kosice marathon (Slovakia) where he achieved his best time (2:24:35); Shegae Maeregu, 22 years old, winner of the Sofia marathon (Bulgaria) and has the best distance record of 2h.24: 42; Y Meseret Gebre Dekebo29, also won the 2021 San Sabastián marathon, where he achieved his personal best (2:27:36).
The freshness of this edition, which will pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona’92 Olympic Games marathon, is a 10-kilometer race.leaving at 08:20 am, for a solidarity purpose for refugees from Ukraine, allocating two euros per registration for this purpose.
The test route, remodeled in 2019 to make the circuit faster, passes through emblematic points of the city and avoids the daunting last 3 kilometers of Avenida Paral lel, turn at Ronda Sant Pau to Calle Sepúlveda and there at the finish line on Avenida María Cristina.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
