A first race over the distance… and a first victory. Sunday April 2, the Ethiopian Abeje Ayana, 20, won the Paris marathon, in 2 h 07 min and 15 s. He is ahead of his compatriot Guye Adola (2 h 07 min 35 s), big favorite at the start, and the Kenyan Josphat Boit (2 h 07 min 40 s).
Abeje Ayana dropped Guye Adola, twelve years his senior, in the last five kilometers, to afford the success that consecrates his advent as an athlete of international renown. The young man was competing in Paris for his first marathon (42.195 km), after two “semi”, one in Poznan (Poland), completed in 59 min 39 s, in October 2021, and another in Cardiff, finished in 1 h 00 min 17s, last year.
Among the French engaged this Sunday, Mehdi Frère finished 10e in 2 h 11 min 04 s and Yoann Kowal, who was European champion in the 3,000 m steeplechase in 2014, took 15e place en 2 h 14 min 56 s.
Third last year by setting the new French record, Morhad Amdouni ranks 13e (2 h 12 min 45 s). “I did not come for the performance but above all as part of my preparation for the Worlds [19-27 août]he recalled after the race. I had to finish 42 kilometers, I’m happy, I finished them. »
winner with a breath
Among the women, it was Kenyan Helah Kiprop who won with a bang, with a time of 2 h 23 min 19 s. Winner of the Tokyo Marathon in 2016, she cut the line at the same time as Ethiopian Atalel Anmut, 2e. Another Ethiopian, Fikrte Wereta, finished in third position three seconds behind the leading duo (2h 23 min 22 s).
The 37-year-old athlete made a fantastic comeback. Present in a small leading group, she was released 5 kilometers from the line, before surprising everyone by managing to catch up to finally win.
Held in the Parisian gloom and in conditions made difficult by the rain and the wind, the event did not allow the participants to set new records. Nor did it offer them the opportunity to recognize the route of the Olympic marathon which will be held in the streets of the French capital in less than 500 days.
This year’s route started from the center of Paris, then swept across the capital from East to West. The Olympic route will start at the Hôtel de Ville before plunging in the direction of Versailles (Yvelines) and then returning to the centre.
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More than 52,000 participants were expected at this 46e edition, with 43% of distance neophytes.
