Fotyen Tesfay wins the Barcelona Marathon (© Sportmedia)
Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay stormed to second on the world all-time list by running a 2:10:51 marathon debut at the Zurich Barcelona Marathon – a World Athletics Elite Label road race – on Sunday (15).
The 28-year-old started the race as the third-fastest women’s half marathon runner in history and ended it by surpassing that feat over double the distance, finishing within a minute of the world marathon record.
She won the race by almost eight minutes ahead of Kenya’s Joan Jepkosgei Kiplimo, while Uganda’s Abel Chelangat won the men’s race in 2:04:57.
After finishing seventh at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and eighth at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 in the 10,000m, Tesfay started her marathon journey by covering the first 10km in 31:05 in Barcelona as she followed her two male pacemakers.
They picked up the pace and hit the halfway mark in 1:05:05, forging on to reach 30km in 1:32:00.
Her target was the world record of 2:09:56 set by Ruth Chepngetich in Chicago in 2024 and Tesfay looked determined as she went through 40km in 2:03:31. While she was unable to dip under 2:10 this time, Tesfay was rewarded with the fastest ever women’s marathon debut, an Ethiopian record and the second-quickest performance in history.
“Today was fantastic – not what I was expecting, but it is good,” she told the race broadcaster, speaking through an interpreter.
“My plan was to attack the world record but today there was a lot of wind, I was not able to push in the last part of the race. Today I did not succeed, but in the next marathon I would like to try for the world record.”
Jepkosgei Kiplimo finished second in 2:18:42 and Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer was third in 2:18:49.
In the men’s race, Chelangat and Kenya’s Patrick Mosin broke away and Chelangat tracked his rival through 40km in 1:58:40. Chelangat made his move as they reached a water station and he looked in control as he strode away with two hours on the clock.
Mosin couldn’t respond and Chelangat clinched the win unchallenged, clocking 2:04:57 to Mosin’s 2:05:01. Kenya’s Jonathan Samanayo Korir was third in 2:05:29.
Leading results
Women
1 Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 2:10:51
2 Joan Jepkosgei Kiplimo (KEN) 2:18:42
3 Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:18:49
4 Chaltu Chimdesa Kumsa (ETH) 2:23:32
5 Yalganesh Eskamech Gedefa (ETH) 2:24:05
Men
1 Abel Chelangat (UGA) 2:04:57
2 Patrick Mosin (KEN) 2:05:01
3 Jonathan Samanayo Korir (KEN) 2:05:29
4 Moses Kipngetich Kemei (KEN) 2:05:53
5 Kaan Kigen Özbilen (TUR) 2:06:01
Teklu and Desse win Seoul Marathon
Haftu Teklu retained his title in a course record and Haven Hailu Desse claimed a clear win to complete an Ethiopian double at the Seoul Marathon – a World Athletics Platinum Label road race – on Sunday (15).
Teklu prevailed after a fierce sprint finish against Getaneh Molla and they led the top five all under the previous course record of 2:04:43.
Teklu won in a PB of 2:04:23, just one second ahead of his compatriot Molla. Kenya’s Gilbert Kibet and Enock Kinyamal and Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Getachew and Sufaro Woliyi Kabeto remained in contention until the closing stages and also dipped under 2:05.
Desse had a much more comfortable victory, winning by 30 seconds ahead of her compatriot Bekelech Gudeta – 2:19:09 to 2:19:39, both PBs.
Six runners remained in the lead pack of the men's race as 40km was reached in 1:58:03.
Molla was first to move but he was tracked every step by Teklu. They turned the final bend and Molla was a step ahead until Teklu used a perfectly timed kick to surge past him with the finish line in sight.
Teklu started celebrating but had to run hard all the way to the finish line to retain his title in 2:04:23. Molla was a close second (2:04:24) and they were followed by Kibet (2:04:32), Getachew (2:04:33), Woliyi Kabeto (2:04:36) and Kinyamal (2:04:46).
In the women's race, Desse ran as part of a pack through halfway in 1:08:42 and 30km in 1:37:46. She pushed ahead after 35km and reached 40km in 2:12:01, running solo to the finish line which she reached in 2:19:09 for a clear victory.
Gudeta was second and Bosena Mulatie completed an Ethiopian top three in 2:19:47, while Kenya’s Joyce Chepkemoi Tele also broke 2:20, doing so for the first time with a PB 2:19:50.
Leading results
Women
1 Haven Hailu Desse (ETH) 2:19:09
2 Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:19:39
3 Bosena Mulatie (ETH) 2:19:47
4 Joyce Chepkemoi Tele (KEN) 2:19:50
5 Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:20:45
Men
1 Haftu Teklu (ETH) 2:04:23
2 Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:04:24
3 Gilbert Kibet (KEN) 2:04:32
4 Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:04:33
5 Sufaro Woliyi Kabeto (ETH) 2:04:36
