MADRID, 19 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Kenyan athletes Charles Kipkirui Langat and Irine Jepchumba Kimais have been proclaimed winners this Sunday of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona 2023, a test in which both have managed to break records in both the men’s and women’s categories and in which 17,855 runners have participated.
Langat covered the route in a time of 58:53, 13 seconds below the current record set so far by Haftu Teklu in 2022 (59:06). Ethiopian Birhanu Legese (58:59), who also beat Teklu’s time, and Kenyan Solomon Kirwa Yego (59:29) completed the podium.
“It’s my first time in Barcelona and beating the race record makes me very happy, I didn’t expect it. I congratulate the organization because the circuit is very fast. I hope to be able to return next year,” said Langat.
In the women’s category, Kenyan Irine Jepchumba Kimais also broke the test record set in 2015 by Florence Kiplagat (1:05:09), bettering it by 32 seconds with a time of 1:04:37. The women’s podium was completed by two other Kenyans, Joyceline Jepkosgei (1:04:46) and Catherine Reline (1:05:39).
“When they gave me the opportunity to come to Barcelona, I did not hesitate. I have reached the finish line giving my best and it is incredible to have broken the record of my compatriot Kiplagat, valid until today for eight years”, highlighted the winner.
The test, organized by the Barcelona City Council and RPM Sports, has had an all-time high number of runners (7,350 women, 35% of the total number of participants) and a third (33%) of international runners, coming from up to 101 nationalities different.
The inclusive aspect of the eDreams Half Marathon Barcelona 2023 has included the participation of Alex Roca, the athlete with a 76% physical disability who crossed the finish line in 2:38:28 running alongside journalist and ultramarathoner Valentí Sanjuan to participate for this race for the third time and to prepare to become the first athlete with cerebral palsy to run the 42.195 km of the Zurich Barcelona Marathon on March 19.
Likewise, Eric Domingo and Silvia Roldán, who hold the current Guinness marathon record pushing a wheelchair and achieved last December at the Valencia Marathon in 2:52:39 (an achievement that they already achieved in 2021 also at the Zurich Marathon). Barcelona with a time of 2:53:28), they have finished this edition, the fourth in which both have participated, in 1:24:05.