With a devastating performance that earned him the career record, the Ethiopian Tamirat Tola this Sunday she won a New York 2023 marathon that in the women’s branch was in the hands of Kenyan Hellen Obiri.
In the last major marathon of the year, the world champion in Eugene 2022 achieved the best mark of this marathon with a time of 2 hours 4 minutes 58 seconds. He thus shattered the previous circuit record of 2h05:06 set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011.
Kenyan Albert Korir was second with a time of 2:06:57, while Ethiopian Shura Kitata closed the podium in 2:07:11.
The race passed with perfect weather and circuit conditions and Tola waited for his moment to take control of the competition around 30 kilometers into the route.
Tola, 32 years old, consolidated his lead and gained great speed in the last ten kilometers, to sign his first victory on the world circuit of major marathons.
His best results before celebrating in New York had been a third place in Tokyo in 2022 and in London at the beginning of this year.
The victory marks the glorious return of the Ethiopian runner who lost his world marathon crown in August in Budapest, in a race in which he failed to finish the course.
“I’m very happy. “It is the first time that I have won a big marathon, which is very important for me and also the circuit record,” Tola explained to ESPN, after winning the race.
The women’s event, decided on the sprint
If in the men’s branch Tola surprised with a record, in the women’s race the race did not have the expected pace.
In the run-up, it was speculated that a large group that included Obiri, current Boston Marathon champion, Gidey and Brigid Kosgei, the third fastest woman in history, would set a great pace for the peloton. However, The race was a slow tactical battle with a group of about 11 runners grouped together until they passed the 30 kilometer mark.
A peloton that was reduced in the final stretch of the race, after 40 kilometers, with Obiri, Gidey and the defending champion, Sharon Lokedi, at the head.
Lokedi lost the battle with Obiri and Gidey and these two starred in an exciting duel that ended with Obiri, current Boston Marathon champion, crossing the finish line in first place (2h27:23)
She beat the Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey in the final sprint, who finished second in 2h27:29 and the Kenyan Lokedi completed the podium in 2h27:33.
«I was worried because the others were very strong. But in a marathon you have to be patient,” she told ESPN. So I said to myself: “Let’s be patient until we get to Central Park and then we’ll see what happens in the end,” the champion summarized.
2023-11-05 18:37:19
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