Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw wins the women’s category
MADRID, 10 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Swiss-nationalized Eritrean athlete Abraham Tadesse won this Sunday the victory in the 45th Zurich Marató Barcelona after reducing the record established in 2023 by five seconds, while the Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw won the women’s category.
In a test that debuted a new circuit, Tadesse, 41, was in charge of lowering the event’s record for the fourth consecutive year by crossing the finish line in 2:05:01, five seconds below the record set in 2023 by Marius Kimutai (2:05:06).
The podium was completed by Kenyans Collins Kipkurui Kipkorir (2:06:44) and Edmond Kipngetich (2:07:21). The first three athletes ran together at the head of the race until km 35, when Tadesse dropped off to enter the finish line alone.
“I was looking to win Barcelona again and I have achieved it. I won the half marathon in this city in 2015 and today, nine years later and at almost 42 years old, I can assure you that nothing is impossible, age is just a number. I have been able to achieve the circuit record and I would like to return to this test to try to reach the finish line in 2 hours and 4 minutes,” said Tadesse.
In the women’s category, the victory went to the Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw, who stopped the clock at 2:19:52, staying eight seconds away from the circuit record set last year by Zeineba Yimer Worku (2:19:44).
Her compatriot Shuko Genemo Wote finished second (2:21:35), and fellow Ethiopian Meseret Dinke Meleka was third (2:22:58). The Ethiopians have led the elite women’s group throughout the race, until shortly before km 30, when Azimeraw took the lead and headed alone towards victory.
“I am very happy to have won in Barcelona. I really liked the circuit. I will try to repeat it next year, because it is a route that I think can be run even faster and I would like to beat the circuit record next time” Azimeraw noted.
With 20,000 race numbers sold, thousands of participants gathered in the streets of Barcelona, which had a record of female participation, with 5,000 marathon runners, making one in four participants and 57% of international runners female.
The test, organized by Barcelona City Council and RPM Sports, has been repeated for the second consecutive year in 2024 as a Gold Label race. In addition, the 46th Catalan Marathon Championship was also held within the 45th Zurich Marató Barcelona, with triumphs by Artur Bossy (2:19:11) and Jessica Tipán (2:48:21).
Just before the awards ceremony, a twinning ceremony was held between the Barcelona marathon and the New York marathon, whose representative was George Hirsch, the founder and honorary president of the great New York race.
The most supportive aspect of the Zurich Marató Barcelona 2024 has come from the Zurich Foundation, which has donated one euro for each finisher. Finally, the total amount raised was 16,175 euros and will go to the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital.