Kenyan Zablon Chumba and Ethiopian Abebech Afework Bekele won this Saturday, October 25th, the 12th Lisbon Marathon, men’s and women’s, respectively, which put to the test a record 15 thousand athletes, between Cascais, Oeiras and the Portuguese capital.
Zablon Chumba, 33 years old, completed the 42 km of the new route, starting in Carcavelos and finishing in Terreiro do Paço, in 2:07:11, a new personal record, which improves by two seconds his previous record, in Doha, in 2023.
The race podium was completed by Ethiopians Gadisa Birhanu Shumie, in second place, with a time of 02:07.25, and Limenih Getachew Yizengaw, in third place, after crossing the finish line at 02:08.57.
“I am very grateful and happy with this victory. It is my first time in Lisbon and this gives me greater motivation to continue running. It is a route that gives a good rhythm, beautiful and perfect”, said Chumba, record holder of the Porto Marathon in 2021, with a time of 02:08.58.
Among the ladies, the first athlete to arrive in the Portuguese capital was Abebech Afework Bekele, aged 34, after completing the route in 02:29:00, followed by compatriot Asmare Beyene Assefa, with 02:29.09, and Kenyan Rael Nguriatukei Kinyara, who closed the podium with a time of 02:29.22.
In the elite race, Hélder Santos was the best national representative, having finished the 42 km in 02:58.02, while André Costa, from Casa do Benfica de Reguengos de Monsaraz, was the first Portuguese to cross the finish line, after 02:27.09.
“I had already finished second and third in previous years and, last year, I did 03:04 in a different race at the beginning of the year. This was the first time I came in first. I like this race, it’s in our capital, emblematic and next to the sea, which is what I like most”, highlighted Costa, an amateur athlete and a soldier by profession.
Among the Portuguese athletes, Sara Urbano was the first to arrive at Terreiro do Paçoon a gray morning marked by some light rain, with a record of 02:49.58, while Patrícia Carreira, among the elite athletes, had the best time (03:01.02)
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