Course records for Demise in Paris and Shimeles in Rotterdam

Ethiopia’s Shure Demise broke the course record at the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris – a World Athletics Gold Label road race – on Sunday (12), while Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa secured a hard-fought victory in the men’s race.

Demise produced a decisive break in the closing stages to win in 2:18:34, taking more than a minute off the previous course record of 2:19:48.

A lead pack of six passed 10km in 33:05 and reached halfway in 1:09:37. The pace lifted in the second half and, by 30km (1:38:54), the lead group had been reduced to five: Demise, Enatnesh Tirusew, Sharon Chelimo, Misgane Alemayehu and Magdalyne Masai.

The quintet stayed together for several kilometres before Demise made her move, covering the second half in 1:08:57 to secure victory. Alemayehu finished second in 2:19:08 ahead of Masai (2:19:17) and Tirusew (2:19:18), all four athletes finishing inside the previous course record.

In the men’s race, Crippa broke away from a tightly packed field to win in a personal best of 2:05:18.

The leaders passed 10km in 29:51 and halfway in 1:03:12, with as many as 18 athletes still within five seconds of the lead. The field thinned in the closing stages, and Crippa emerged from a reduced lead group to secure victory.

Ethiopia’s Bayelign Teshager finished second in 2:05:23, followed by Kenya’s Sila Kiptoo (2:05:28) and Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismail (2:05:38), with just 40 seconds separating the top six finishers.

Leading results

Women
1 Shure Demise (ETH) 2:18:34
2 Misgane Alemayehu (ETH) 2:19:08
3 Magdalyne Masai (KEN) 2:19:17
4 Enatnesh Tirusew (ETH) 2:19:18
5 Sharon Chelimo (KEN) 2:20:03
6 Alisa Vainio (FIN) 2:21:35
7 Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 2:24:20
8 Mekdes Woldu (FRA) 2:26:25

Men
1 Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 2:05:18
2 Bayelign Teshager (ETH) 2:05:23
3 Sila Kiptoo (KEN) 2:05:28
4 Mohamed Ismail (DJI) 2:05:38
5 Awet Nftalem Kibrab (NOR) 2:05:46
6 Emmanuel Roudolff (FRA) 2:05:58
7 Bethwel Kibet (KEN) 2:06:08
8 Hillary Kipkoech (KEN) 2:06:33

Shimeles breaks course record in Rotterdam

Ethiopia’s Mekides Shimeles set a course record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam – also a World Athletics Gold Label road race – while compatriot Guye Adola produced a late surge to win a closely contested men’s race on Sunday (12).

A lead group of 11 women passed 10km in 33:01, with five still together at halfway in 1:09:15. Shimeles encountered a setback at the 25km drinks station, briefly losing contact with the leaders, but quickly regained her rhythm.

She made her move before 30km, reaching the mark with a nine-second lead, which she extended to around a minute over the next 5km. Shimeles went on to win in 2:18:56, taking two seconds off the course record set by Tiki Gelana in 2012. Aminet Ahmed finished second in 2:21:25.

In the men’s race, 12 athletes passed 5km in 14:43 and 10km in 29:16, while nine remained together at halfway in 1:01:36. The lead group was reduced to seven by 30km (1:27:28).

After 35km, the decisive moves began to unfold. Bashir Abdi and Tesfaye Deriba broke away at about 37km, with Abdi edging ahead just before 40km. However, Adola – who had remained just behind the leaders – produced a strong finish in the closing stages to move through the field and take victory in 2:03:54.

Deriba finished second in 2:04:15 ahead of Abdi (2:04:19) and Kenya’s Kenneth Kipkemoi (2:04:21).

Leading results

Women
1 Mekides Shimeles (ETH) 2:18:56
2 Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:25
3 Shitaye Eshete (BRN) 2:23:22
4 Pascalia Chepkogei (KEN) 2:24:34
5 Clémence Calvin (FRA) 2:25:24
6 Burtukan Yifru (ETH) 2:26:24
7 Susana Santos (POR) 2:26:26
8 Mikky Keetels (NED) 2:30:42

Men
1 Guye Adola (ETH) 2:03:54
2 Tesfaye Deriba (ETH) 2:04:15
3 Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:04:19
4 Kenneth Kipkemoi (KEN) 2:04:21
5 Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:05:19
6 Erick Kiplagat Sang (KEN) 2:05:34
7 Filmon Tesfu (NED) 2:06:40
8 Pietro Riva (ITA) 2:06:46