Switzerland’s 2018 European marathon silver medallist Tadesse Abraham won the Barcelona Marathon on Sunday (10) morning in a course record and Swiss record of 2:05:01.
Now 41, Abraham shaved nine seconds off his Swiss record and lifetime best from the 2023 Berlin Marathon to consolidate his seventh-place position on the European all-time list.
This was also Abraham’s first career marathon victory since winning the Zurich Marathon two years and the Swiss veteran dedicated his victory to the late world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum who tragically died in a car accident in February.
“I was here last year and I was a bit disappointed because I got sick three days before the race and I was sixth. This year I really prepared for it and I eliminated all my mistakes from last year and I was ready to go for a fast time.
“The course was good. There are some sharp corners - if we eliminate them, it would be even faster. Even though it was a bit windy at the beginning, we managed it because the course is fast and flat.”
“I want to give this victory to the late great marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum. I give this victory to him,” said Abraham.
Italy’s Iliass Aouani finished fourth in 2:08:05 while Portugal’s Carla Salome Rocha was the top Portuguese finisher in the women’s race in sixth in 2:27:22.
Nageeye breaks Dutch half marathon record on home soil
Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye from the Netherlands won the CPC Den Haag Half Marathon on Sunday (10) in a lifetime best and Dutch record of 60:21, improving his national record by three seconds.
Nageeye’s main target this spring is the Rotterdam Marathon in April when he will be targeting his third successive podium finish.
In the women’s race, Germany’s Katharina Steinruck finished second in 69:58 with Anne Luijten from the Netherlands third in a PB of 70:39. The race was won by Kenya’s Susan Chembai in 67:12.
There were also fast times en masse from the European contingent in the Gent Half Marathon on Sunday. Brit Paulos Surafel ran a big lifetime best of 61:21 ahead of Simon Debognies who was seventh in 61:24 and winning the Belgian title in the process from Dorian Boulvin (61:25) and Koen Naert (61:33).
Juliette Thomas was fifth in the women’s race in a lifetime best of 69:47, winning the Belgian title in the process.
Steven Mills for European Athletics