Marathon

Birhanu Legese and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter were the top finishers in a lightning-fast 2020 Tokyo Marathon on Sunday.

Both the men's and women's races were run at an intense pace, and no less than 17 runners ducked under the 2:08:00 mark, per sportswriter Jonathan Gault:

I know everyone is focused on the Trials, but holy shit the Tokyo Marathon results are insane.

17 (!!!) guys under 2:08. Most ever in one race. I mean, could you imagine running 2:07 and finishing SEVENTEENTH?

15 Japanese guys under 2:09!

More Vaporflation, @Scienceofsport? pic.twitter.com/d9a7zTvU70

— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) March 1, 2020

Bashir Abdi ran the second-fastest European time in history, but it wasn't enough to beat Legese to the top spot despite some injury trouble for the Ethiopian.

Salpeter finished nearly a minute before the second-placed runner in the women's race, Ethiopia's Birhane Dibaba.

Here are the podiums for both races:

Men's Elite

1. Birhanu Legese, Ethiopia, 2:04:15

2. Bashir Abdi, Belgium

3. Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia

   

Women's Elite

1. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, Israel, 2:17:45

2. Birhane Dibaba, Ethiopia

3. Sutume Asefa Kebede, Ethiopia

   

The field was reduced to just 300 elite runners and saw a limited amount of volunteers over fears of the coronavirus, leading to remarkably empty streets, per CNN's Will Ripley:

I decided to check out the Tokyo marathon. It’s usually so festive and colorful — with costumed runners & enthusiastic crowds lining the route. This year, the streets are nearly empty. Just 300 elite runners instead of the usual 35K. Only 600 volunteers instead of the usual 10K. pic.twitter.com/vLz75vLi0c

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) March 1, 2020

Legese ran his personal best of 2:02:48 during the Berlin Marathon last year and came into the Tokyo Marathon as the defending champion.

He and Lemma were the clear favourites for the title and kept things close until the final three kilometers, when the defending champion kicked on. He later told reporters he did so despite growing pains in his hip:

https://twitter.com/TokyoMarathon_E/status/1234009670416650240

Lemma fell back to third place after a phenomenal late surge from Abdi, who was down in 15th place after 10 kilometers but found tremendous pace in the final quarter of the marathon.

In the women's race, Salpeter made her move after 30 kilometers and finished solo in a new national record. Dibaba was the only runner who could keep pace after the initial move and also finished faster than the previous course record but was still 50 seconds down on the winner.

Salpeter was happy to take the solo win:

https://twitter.com/TokyoMarathon_E/status/1234015099972550656

Both wheelchair races also saw new course records and local winners. Japan's Tomoki Suzuki took the men's race in a blistering 1:21:52, over eight minutes faster than anyone else. Tsubasa Kina was even more dominant, finishing over 13 minutes before anyone else in the women's race.

A pair of runners from Ethiopia took first place at the 2020 Houston Marathon.

Kelkile Gezahegn was the best in the field Sunday, winning the men's race with a time of 2:08:36. Askale Merachi was the top women's finisher after running all 26.2 miles in 2:23:29, beating out three different women who were within two minutes of first place.

Marathon winners: Kelkile Gezahegn (Ethiopia) & Askale Merachi (Ethiopia) 🏅 Congratulations! #runhou #houstonmarathon pic.twitter.com/CrzgTcSgXa

— Houston Marathon (@HoustonMarathon) January 19, 2020

Craig Hunt (2:17:18) was the top American man in eighth overall while edging Joseph Niemiec by just five seconds. Adriana Nelson-Pirtea earned the title of fastest American women with a time of 2:33:18.

Here is a look at the top finishers in each category.

     

Top Male Finishers

1. Kelkile Gezahegn (2:08:36)

2. Bronsa Dida (2:10:37)

3. Amanuel Mesel (2:11:04)

4. Benson Seurei (2:11:51)

5. Stephen Scullion (2:11:52)

     

Top Female Finishers

1. Askale Merachi (2:23:29)

2. Biruktayit Degefa Eshetu (2:24:47)

3. Malindi Elmore (2:24:50)

4. Meseret Belete (2:24:54)

5. Bekelech Gudeta (2:29:22)

Full results available at the event's official site.

Gezahegn had an impressive performance in Houston with a pace of four minutes and 55 seconds per mile. He was in second place at the halfway mark and third at 15.5 miles, but he was on fire the rest of the way to end up in front of the pack at the finish line.

Ethiopian native Kelkile Gezahegn wins Chevron Houston Marathon with an unofficial time of just over 2:08 #houmarathon pic.twitter.com/XRMamSrIY1

— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) January 19, 2020

Woldaregay Kelkile Gezahegn of Ethiopia won the men’s Chevron Houston Marathon for the men coming in at 2:08:36. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bPPeatgV0d

— Taisha Walker (@KPRC2Taisha) January 19, 2020

The 23-year-old has performed well on the international scene, winning a Slovenian marathon last October while adding victories in China and Germany. However, he had never competed in an American marathon until this one.

It seems the different geography didn't affect him at all as he was able to add another title to his resume.

Merachi also turned heads with her performance, extending an incredible run of success from Ethiopian women:

Askale Merachi of Ethiopia won the Chevron Houston Marathon for the women. Her time was 2:23:29. She’s the 14th consecutive woman from Ethiopia to come in first. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/rzgQYzrWMR

— Taisha Walker (@KPRC2Taisha) January 19, 2020

While the race was usually close, Merachi led at every single checkpoint Sunday as part of an inspiring effort from the 33-year-old.

After setting a course record with her win at the Los Angeles marathon last year, she shaved almost another full minute off her time in 2020.

In third place in the women's division was Malindi Elmore, who set a national record with her performance.

MALINDI ELMORE RUNS CANADIAN MARATHON RECORD IN 2:24:50 AT HOUSTON MARATHON!

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) January 19, 2020

With thousands of other runners competing on the difficult course, it was a memorable day of action in the Texas event.

In 2018, Nick Hilton proposed to his girlfriend after winning the Disney World Marathon. This year, it was all about him.

Hilton ran a time of two hours, 22 minutes and 19 seconds to earn a dominant win at the 2020 event, besting second-place Benjamin Xie by more than four minutes.

Martins said she's retiring from the event after the race. 

Reigning men's champion Fredison Costa was unable to complete the race due to an illness. Costa was looking for his eighth Disney Marathon victory, which would have tied him with Adriano Bastos for the most all-time. Brazilians have won 18 of the 27 races for the men. 

Martins finished nearly five minutes ahead of second-place American Jordyn Kleve. Martins and Kleve were by far the class of the women's field, as no other runner was within 10 minutes of the pair.

An American woman has not won the Disney World Marathon since 2013 (Renee High). 

Set those alarms, because the Disney World Marathon is almost here. And it's starting a bit earlier this year.

On Sunday, the 27th annual Disney World Marathon will take place, with the race beginning at 5 a.m. ET, 30 minutes earlier than past years. There are also several other changes to the race, so participants and spectators alike will want to be prepared before Sunday morning arrives.

There will be more than 75,000 runners participating, representing more than 72 countries, with the 26.2-mile course taking them through Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Disney World Marathon in Florida.

                 

Event Information

When: Sunday, Jan. 12

Start time: 5 a.m. ET

Course map: Available on RunDisney.com.

           

For runners who have participated in the race before, they will notice some changes to this year's course.

Race participants will now run through Blizzard Beach. They will also spend more time running inside Epcot and less on the roads outside the parks. Those should be welcome changes, as it will showcase even more of what Disney World has to offer during the race.

The marathon used to feature a route through Blizzard Beach from 1995 to 1998, but that portion was replaced following a redesign in 1999.

Another change for race participants is a new outdoor-exclusive area where they can take pictures, pick up gear, stretch and recover. While spectators won't have access to that area, there are new ChEAR Squad packages that offer access to the race's finish line and a popular Magic Kingdom viewing location, along with other amenities.

Those changes and additions will be great for race participants and spectators. However, one thing that may not be so great is the weather.

On Thursday morning, runDisney issued a weather advisory for the weekend because of the warm temperatures and high humidity expected throughout the weekend, including for Sunday morning's race. Runners are encouraged to stay hydrated, choose light clothing/costumes and to slow down if experiencing any symptoms of heat illness.

According to The Weather Channel, the high temperature for Orlando on Sunday is expected to be 85 degrees Fahrenheit with 71 percent humidity.

The Disney World Marathon has been taking place annually since 1994. The weekend has featured a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon and the full marathon since 2006.

Last year, Fredison Costa of Brazil won the race on the men's side for the fifth time in six years, completing the course in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 45 seconds. The men's record of 2:11:50 was set by Leonid Shvetsov of Russia in 1995.

Giovanna Martins of Brazil has won the marathon on the women's side three straight years and four of the past five. She finished the course in 2:45:24 last year. The women's record of 2:31:54 was set by Judit Nagy of Hungary in 1995.

But this race isn't just about the competition. Many participants will be dressed up as their favorite Disney characters for the race, so there should be fun for all throughout the weekend in Orlando.

New York's Diriba Degefa Yigezu won the men's division of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday morning, coming in with a time of 2:16:30. 

Diriba Degefa Yigezu wins the Philadelphia Marathon with a time of 2:16:30.

He finished in third place a year ago. pic.twitter.com/R0vJjB4ase

— Graham Foley (@graham_foley3) November 24, 2019

Yigezu held off a number of contenders, including Albuquerque's Milton Rotich (2:18:47), Minneapolis' Connor Reck (2:19:27), New York's Urgesa Kedir Figa (2:19:39) and Astoria's Chase Pizzonia (2:20:25).

"It feels really good, I trained really hard," Yigezu told Graham Foley of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "The rain made it very hard but I got through ... it just feels so good."

On the women's side, New York's Feyne Gudeto Gemeda set a course record with a time of 2:32:48.

Feyne Gudeto Gemeda finished first in the female category of the Philadelphia Marathon with a course-record time of 2:32:48. She beat the record by three seconds. pic.twitter.com/QnVggy6rrW

— Graham Foley (@graham_foley3) November 24, 2019

She obliterated the field, finishing well ahead of Toledo's Viola Bor (2:39:58), Cherry Hill's Katie Rodden (2:40:47), Quebec's Anne-Marie Comeau (2:41:09) and Jersey City's Allison Goldstein (2:44:10).

"I'm very happy with the record," Gemeda told Foley. "I was training very hard. I was pushing to run under 2:32 but the rain and wind was very challenging so I'm happy with how I finished."

Frankly, just participating in the race on a rainy and cold Philadelphia morning was impressive enough, with temperatures below 40 degrees. That didn't seem to ruin the atmosphere among the runners and spectators.

A happy atmosphere as runners stream down 6th Street for the Philadelphia Marathon, the choir of Mother Bethel AME church singing on the corner. The church used to reschedule services because of the run, but now they sing to runners, many of whom are waving and cheering back pic.twitter.com/htvxbe7L5S

— Justine McDaniel (@McDanielJustine) November 24, 2019

Love the Philadelphia Marathon! The weather is terrible but the runners are amazing. Here are the elite runners at 21st and Chestnut. pic.twitter.com/odIsebSrMx

— Nikka (@nikkathatcher) November 24, 2019

And thousands braved the elements on Philadelphia's relatively flat course. If you have the mental fortitude to compete in a marathon, it seems having the mental fortitude to compete in a marathon in rainy and cold conditions is a given. 

The Philadelphia Marathon may not be as old as similar events held around the country, but it's an event with plenty of history.

That's because the race takes participants through the streets of Philadelphia and past historic landmarks, such as Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Liberty Bell Center. Runners will go through neighborhoods and along waterfronts during the marathon.

With the race getting closer, here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Philadelphia Marathon.

       

Event Information

When: Sunday, Nov. 24

Start time: 7 a.m. ET

Course map: Available on PhiladelphiaMarathon.com

Road closures: There will be streets closed around the city all weekend, beginning on Friday. For more information, visit PhiladelphiaMarathon.com.

         

The Philadelphia Marathon was established in 1954, but it's only been a City of Philadelphia-managed race held exclusively within city limits since 1994.

The marathon brings in about 30,000 runners each year, coming from all 50 states and numerous countries around the world. There will also be plenty of people coming to watch and cheer on the participants, so Philadelphia will likely be filled for this weekend's event.

The course for the marathon is the standard 26.2 miles.

This year's race could be chilly and wet for participants. According to Weather.com, Sunday's high temperature will be 47 degrees Fahrenheit with a 70-percent chance of morning rain showers. It is also likely to rain Saturday evening and night, which could make the course already damp heading into Sunday morning.

Last year, new race records (since 1994) were set on both the men's and women's sides. For the men, Tadesse Dabi of Ethiopia completed the race in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 47 seconds. Ethiopia's Abrha Serkalem Biset finished in 2:32:53 to set the women's record.

The winner of the marathon receives $10,000, while those who finish second ($5,000), third ($2,500), fourth ($1,500) and fifth ($1,000) also get cash prizes. There will also be prize money awarded to the first Philadelphian male and female, with each winning $1,000, as well as those who finish first in the master and wheelchair divisions, who will each receive $1,000.

There's also a $1,500 bonus for setting a course record.

The marathon isn't the only race that will take place at the Philadelphia event this weekend. There's also a half marathon, an 8K and a kids fun run on Saturday. Those races will take place throughout the morning, getting the weekend off to a fun start.

As always, it should be an exciting weekend for those who participate and attend, and it will officially begin when runners start to arrive in Philadelphia on Friday.

Las Vegas is known for its casinos, lights and various forms of entertainment, but for one night only, the Strip was partially transformed into a marathon course as runners from around the globe converged on the city to race.

In the end, Heather Bray and Tommy Rivers Puzey emerged as Vegas' biggest victors Sunday at the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 @Humana #RnRVegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon!

Marathon:
Heather Bray 3:13:00
Tommy Rivers Puzey 2:28:04

Half Marathon:
Brittney Feivor 1:13:20
Tyler Day 1:03:48 pic.twitter.com/nK6aP4G6nQ

— Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series (@RunRocknRoll) November 18, 2019

     

Women's Top Finishers

1. Heather Bray (3:13:00)

2. Emily Rollins (3:19:42)

3. Jennifer Creps (3:25:11)

4. Kristina Nikolova (3:29:00)

5. Stephanie Kortan (3:30:10)

Source: track.rtrt.me

     

Men's Top Finishers

1. Tommy Rivers Puzey (2:28:04)

2. Jacob Krolick (2:31:25)

3. Meng-Tsung Chu (2:32:09)

4. Adam Cordell (2:41:58)

5. Markus Nett (2:43:59)

Source: track.rtrt.me

Nothing shook up Bray as she cruised to an easy win in an Elvis Presley costume:

ELVIS HAS CROSS THE FINISH LINE: Congratulations to Heather Bray on winning the women's Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon → https://t.co/Cv6I9Z2WAq pic.twitter.com/q69LNbDtAz

— Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) November 18, 2019

Bray, a runner, lawyer and mother who now lives in Amsterdam, beat second-place finisher Emily Rollins by 6:42. She had the best time at the 6.2-mile mark and never looked back as she slowly extended the gap between her and the field.

The Las Vegas Marathon winner, who averaged 7:22 per mile, is also an accomplished world-record hula hoop runner.

On the men's side, Puzey won his second consecutive Las Vegas Marathon thanks to a time of 2:28:04, beating second-place finisher Jacob Krolick and third-place runner Meng-Tsung Chu.

Puzey, a professional runner from Flagstaff, Arizona, ran an average of 5:40 per mile.

The top three finishers all competed in the event's elite marathon division.

Adam Cordell was the top marathon runner outside the elite group, ending his race with a time of 2:41:58. That mark was good enough for fourth overall, regardless of division. Markus Nett rounded out the top five.

The Las Vegas Marathon is part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon series, with races scheduled around the world at least once a month through November 2020. The most recent event took place in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. A two-day event occurring in Cancun, Mexico, on December 6 and 7 is up next.

The Vegas rendition consists of a full marathon, half marathon, 10-kilometer and five-kilometer races.

The race shut down parts of the Las Vegas Strip, per Ricardo Torres-Cortez of the Las Vegas Sun, with the event finishing on Las Vegas Blvd. at The Mirage.

Most marathons take place in the morning and go through many streets of a big city. The Las Vegas Marathon is much different.

Starting in the evening on Sunday instead, this race primarily occurs on the main stretch of the Las Vegas strip. It may be unorthodox, but that's part of what makes this event a unique attraction for runners from around the world.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's edition of the Las Vegas Marathon.

       

Event Information

When: Sunday, Nov. 17

Start time: 4:30 p.m. PT

Course map: Available on RunRockNRoll.com

Road closures: In addition to the Las Vegas strip being shut down, there will be road closures around the city, many of which will be in effect from 2:30 p.m.-11 p.m. ET. For more information, visit RunRockNRoll.com.

        

Over the weekend, there will be numerous events going on for participants, including multiple races, live entertainment—including a private Saturday night concert by Kesha—and more. But the main event will be Sunday evening's marathon race.

There should be great weather for Sunday's race, so racing conditions shouldn't be an issue. According to Weather.com, the high temperature for Las Vegas on Sunday will be 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be sunny with no chance of precipitation and only slight wind.

The marathon has a five-hour time limit, but the top finishers should finish in less than three hours. Last year, the winner on the men's side was Thomas Puzey of the United States, who completed the course in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 53 seconds. The women's winner was Hannah McInturff of the United States, who finished in 3:07:24.

The men's record for the race is 2:11:58 set by Stephen Kiogora of Kenya in 2005. The women's record is 2:29:01 set by Sylvia Skvortsova of Russia in 2007.

In future years, there will be more opportunities for participants to enjoy the run down the Las Vegas strip. That's because the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors recently approved a second marathon that will take place in the spring beginning in 2021.

"We've actually been talking to the owners of the race for a few years about adding a second race because of the success of the first," LVCVA vice president of marketing Fletch Brunelle said, according to Richard N. Velotta of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Instead of taking place on a Sunday night, this second spring race will occur on a Saturday night, which could potentially allow for more participants. So, for people who haven't yet had the opportunity to take part in or attend a cool, unique marathon experience, there will be more chances in years to come.  

Geoffrey Kamworor and Joyciline Jepkosgei, both of Kenya, took home the men's and women's races at the 2019 New York Marathon on Sunday.

Kamworor took home his second New York Marathon in the last three years, finishing with a time of 2:08:13. He is the 10th man in history to win at least twice at the event. Albert Korir, also of Kenya, finished in second place. 

BREAKING: Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor reclaims the #NYCMarathon title in 02:08:13 with Albert Korir coming in second #NewYorkMarathon2019 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/CZlyY5k1WV

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 3, 2019

Defending men's champion Lelisa Desisa dropped out of the race in the seventh mile. Desisa was coming off a victory at the world championships last month. 

"From the start of the race, I was feeling OK," Kamworor said. "I was comfortable. I prepared very well to run this marathon. Throughout the last few meters, the pace was somewhat high, and it wasn't a problem for me. That's when I decided to pull away."

While he's still young at age 26, Kamworor is a cagy veteran in comparison to Jepkosgei, who took home the women's side in 2:22:38 in her first-ever marathon. Jepkosgei beat out countrywoman Mary Keitany, who was looking for her fifth New York Marathon championship.

UPDATE: 35KM into the Pro Women’s race and Joyciline Jepkosgei – KEN 🇰🇪 is in the lead followed closely by Mary Keitany – KEN 🇰🇪. #NYCMarathon #NewYorkMarathon2019 pic.twitter.com/VdmmSwbeUP

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 3, 2019

"My strategy I had planned was to finish the race strong," Jepkosgei said. "But in the last kilometers, I saw that I was approaching the finish line and I was capable of winning."

The times reflected a race that was run under borderline ideal conditions. Jepkosgei's time was the second-fastest for a woman in history.

No Americans finished in the top five in either race, but both races did feature a sixth-place finisher for the United States. Jared Ward was the sixth-place finisher on the men's side, while Des Linden did the same among the women. 

For the second time in three years, Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor won the men's division at the New York Marathon.

The 2017 winner came in with a time of 2:08:13, edging out a group of runners that included Albert Korir (2:08:36) and Girma Gebre (2:08:38).

.@GKamworor 🇰🇪 is 🔙🔛🔝! He is once again your #TCSNYCMarathon champion in the men’s open division! pic.twitter.com/EcxPKCNQOw

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

On the women's side, meanwhile, Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei defeated her countrywoman and defending champion Mary Keitany with a time of 2:22:38, missing a course record by seven seconds. Jepkosgei was dominant, beating Keitany (2:23:32) by nearly a minute. 

In her marathon debut, with the second fastest time ever by a woman in the open division, Joyciline Jepkosgei 🇰🇪 is your 2019 #TCSNYCMarathon champion! pic.twitter.com/d7vZD1Q8Cy

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

Joyciline Jepkosgei 🇰🇪 is your 2019 #TCSNYCMarathon champion in the women’s open division!

This follows her win at the #UnitedNYCHalf in March! pic.twitter.com/kTOaf6bibT

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

Beating Keitany was no small feat—she was not only the defending champion, but had also won four of the past five events. Jepkosgei, meanwhile, was running her first marathon.

Not too shabby for a debut.

As for Americans in the race, Jared Ward (2:10:45) was the top United States finisher among the men, coming in sixth, while Des Linden (2:26:49) also finished in sixth for the women. It was Linden who set a blistering pace for the women, leaving only herself, Keitany, Jepkosgei, Ruti Aga and Mary Ngugi in contention at the 12-mile mark.

She couldn't keep that pace going, however, and was reeled in by Jepkosgei.

On the men's side, defending champion Lelisa Desisa dropped out after just seven miles, opening up the race to Kamworor.

With his 2nd #TCSNYCMarathon victory, @GKamworor🇰🇪 is your 2019 men's open division champion! pic.twitter.com/mo39OzhOTo

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

The race also featured a number of notable athletes and celebrities participating, including former NFL players Tiki Barber and Jason Sehorn, actors Uzo Aduba, Luke Kirby, Joanne Tucker, Good Morning America's Amy Robach and Broadway star Christy Altomare.

Former @Giants running back and current @TeamforKids Ambassador @TikiBarber is running his 6th consecutive #TCSNYCMarathon! pic.twitter.com/NqQUns7V9a

— TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 3, 2019

"Running is an individual sport but it is a collective activity," Barber said on Friday, per ABC7NY.com. "You encourage everyone around you. If someone is struggling, you encourage them along. Again—none of us is winning—it's the guys out front, so it's just finish."