As the organisers of the Athens Marathon. The Authentic look back on a record entry of 18,500 runners on Sunday for the 35th edition of their historic race, they are also looking to the future. In recent years the economic problems besetting Greece have had their impact on the race but, like Pheidippides of ancient legend and present-day marathon runners, they kept going. Now, as Kostas Panagopoulos, president of SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation, explained, they see a bright future on the horizon: “We believe that the Authentic Marathon has the right to host many more runners. In order to do so, we ask for the support of the Greek government. We need the State to build a new start for the Athens Marathon.”
Kenya’s Samuel Kalalei and Bedatu Hirpa Badane of Ethiopia wrote their names in history by becoming winners of the 35th Athens Marathon. In warm conditions and with the historic course presenting its annual challenge of rolling hills followed by cruel descent, Kalalei surged away from his compatriot Milton Rotich with seven kilometres remaining. Kalalei was able to celebrate his 23rd birthday a day early with victory in 2:12:17; Rotich, continuing his return to form after lengthy injury, finished second in 2:14:18 and Jonathan Kiptoo completed the all-Kenyan podium with 2:16:08.
The women’s race was only decided over the last few metres within the marble Panathenaic Stadium. Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa Badane, a World Youth champion on the track four years ago, ran a personal best of 2:34:18, just four seconds ahead of Alice Kibor of Kenya. Last year’s winner on her marathon debut, Nancy Arusei, finished third but the Kenyan had the consolation of improving her best by over two minutes to 2:34:51.
The Athens Marathon. The Authentic proved more popular than ever with a record entry of 18,500 eager to experience the original marathon course from the town of Marathon to the 1896 Olympic Stadium in Athens.
Eliud Kipchoge and Mary Keitany are officially the top marathon runners of 2017. The Kenyans were announced as the winners of the AIMS Best Marathon Runner (BMR) Awards at the Gala in Athens on Friday. The event was organised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and the Hellenic Athletics Federation, SEGAS. "The Athens Marathon. The Authentic" will be staged by SEGAS on the original course on Sunday with a record field of 18,500 runners.
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), representing 435 of the world’s best distance races across 114 countries, including the Athens, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York & Tokyo Marathons held its 11th AIMS Marathon Symposium today (11 November 2017) in Athens, Greece.
The Symposium was arranged in collaboration with SEGAS (the Hellenic Athletics Federation) and ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic.’ and has been held annually since 2007.
