The Kenyan won in difficult conditions in the Czech capital, while the Ethiopian Vendemu Tsegu Berehanu secured victory in the men’s race.
Prague’s Old Town Square saw two new marathon champions, Millicent Gelimon and Vendemu Cegu Berehanu, triumph in the Czech Republic today (May 3).
In the elite women’s race, Gelimo, who clocked a personal best of 68:37 in the half marathon from Rome, crossed the finish line fastest in 2:24:20. She won by more than two minutes from second-placed Janet Ruguru Gichumbi (2:26:41), with Angela Jemesunde Tanui (2:27:45) just over a minute behind.
Conditions were quite hot, with athletes running in 22C heat, which meant that Lonah Chemthai Salpeter’s record of 2:19:46 was extremely difficult to approach.
For most of the men’s elite race, it looked like Vendemoux Tsegu Berehanu might beat Alexander Mutiso’s record of 2:05:09, especially when he crossed the halfway mark in 61:48, but that mark has again remained out of reach for runners this year.
Kenya’s Felix Kipkoech finished in 2:07:45, with Ethiopia’s Shiferaw Andualem Belai rounding out the elite three, 14 seconds behind in third. Justus Kipkorir, one of the favorites and battling for the lead with the victorious Vendemoux until the final kilometers, dropped late to fourth.
The Czech national team held an unexpected lead until the half. Matej Zima set the pace in the first half of the race, but then Jan Havlena took over. The defending champion put on a one-man show for the rest of the field, crossing the finish line in 2:17:48 and bettering his personal best. The silver medal was secured by the experienced Vit Pavlishta, who recorded a time of 2:21:23, while David Vash will take the bronze with a time of 2:23:03.
Mikaela Brtnickova dominated the women’s category, bettering her personal best at the Prague Marathon by nearly eight minutes in 2:42:27. The second place was taken by Eva Filipiova, who won the silver medal with a score of 2:43:54. Laura Matulova delivered a huge surprise and promise for the future. In his marathon debut, he clocked 2:46:29 and deservedly won bronze.
Mario Bauernfeind of Austria won the European Police Marathon Championship with an excellent time of 2:19:10, and Anna Langerwisch of Germany was the leader of women with a time of 2:32:13. As last year, the Junior Marathon was dominated by Gymnázium Dr. Antona Randi from Jablonec nad Nisu.
