The Ethiopian athlete Yihunilin Adanewith a period of 2:05:52 amand his countrymen Meseret Gebre Dekebowith a note of 2h.23: 11 was established new records in the men’s and women’s categories of the Zurich Barcelona Marathonheld this Sunday in the typical urban circuit of the Catalan capital.
Of the 8,000 runners at the starting line – about 2,000 women – the test began at 8:00 am, with a temperature of 15ºC and humidity of 57%.
But even the heat was not produced by the Ethiopian athletes, who gave a full recital. In the men’s category, Adane, 26 years old and arrived in Barcelona with a best time of 2:06:22 (Dubai 2020), has made a brilliant career and is in a compact group of approximately twenty runners who set. the speed at the beginning.
By the passing of the half marathon, with 1h.02: 54, he was already below 12 seconds on the record met Kenyan Samuel Kosgei last year. Kosgei and the legendary Abel Kirui, lead the group where Adane is.
After 30 kilometers, the ‘hares’ stopped shooting and the speed with 1h.29: 26 was 23 seconds lower than the record. That’s where the fighting began, with Kenyan Mike Boit attackingwinner of this year’s Granollers Half Marathon, leading the group and leaving the favorites by 20 seconds.
Before passing mile 40, Adane overtook Boit in the lead and only his compatriot Gebru Redahne could keep up with him, but he could not reach it.
Adane stopped the clock at the finish line at 2:05:53ten seconds below Kosgei’s record last year (2:06:03).
The second podium position was for Redahgne, with 2:05:58, and Ethiopian Kebede Wami was third with 2:06:03. Valencian Juan Gimemo became the first Spaniard with 2h.26: 20, in nineteenth position.
The celebration of Ethiopian athletes was joined by runner Meseret Gebre Dekebo29 years old, winner of the 2021 San Sabastián Marathon where he achieved his personal best (2h.27: 36).
Dekebo had a great career and set a new record for the event with a time of 2h.23: 11, lowering by 42 seconds the mark set by his compatriot Tadu Teshome last year, with 2h.23: 53.
A group of ten African runners set the pace from the startwith two level ‘hares’ like Alejandro Rodríguez and the Ugandan Bernard Cheptoch, who completed the entire route with Dekebo.
That group went through the half marathon with a time of 1h.11: 3434 seconds below Teshome’s record, with Meseret Dekebo and big favorite, Tadelech Bekele Alemu, leading.
At kilometer 30, the winner and his countrymen Ayantu Kumela took the lead in the race and Tadelech Bekele started to have physical problems and it is about 3 minutes from the head.
With Bernard Cheptoch’s speed and pulling him, Meseret Dekebo was ahead of the group after crossing kilometer 35 and prevailed with a time of 2:23:11, 42 seconds below last year’s record and four minutes as well. below his personal. mark.
Ayantu Kumela, 25, was second in nearly two minutes with 2h.25: 00, and Zenebu Fikadu, third with 2h.25: 11. Tadelech Bekele was fifth with 2:30:04. The first Spaniard was Catalan athlete Silvia Segura, sixteenth with a time of 2:56:39.
Zurich Marató Barcelona Classification
male category
1. Yihuniligne Adane 2: 05’53
2. Gebru Redahgne 2: 05’58
3. Kebede Wami 2: 06’03
4. Mike Boit 2h.06: 08
5. Felix Kibitok 2:06:28
Zurich Marató Barcelona Classification
female category
1. March Decebo 2: 23’11
2. Ayantu Kumela 2: 25’00
3. Zenebu Fikadu 2: 25’11
4. Zerfie Limeneh 2h: 27: 05
5. Tadelech Bekele 2h.30: 04
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.
