Ethiopia, Kenya Dominate Moscow Half Marathon, Shattering Course Records
Ethiopian and Kenyan runners delivered spectacular performances at the XI Moscow Half Marathon on Sunday, with athletes from the East African powerhouses not only claiming top honors but also setting new course records in the Russian capital.
The event saw a vibrant turnout, with footage capturing the energy of participants warming up before the start, the intense competition unfolding throughout the 21.1-kilometer route winding through Moscow's central streets, and the triumphant moments as runners crossed the finish line. The excitement continued at the podium, where the victors received their well-deserved prizes.
Despite facing challenging cold weather conditions, the African athletes showcased remarkable resilience. Kenyan Ambassador to Russia, Peter Mutuku Mathuki, expressed immense pride in their performance. "We are very excited that our young boys and girls were able to compete in this Moscow Half Marathon. And they came up as winners," Ambassador Mathuki stated. He added, "They are not used to this cold weather, but still, they came out strong and they're looking forward to coming back again."
The popularity of the Moscow Half Marathon continues to surge. Dmitri Tarasov, the event's organizer, highlighted the impressive growth in participation this year. "Today, around 28 thousand people have registered for the event. That's 10 thousand more than last year," Tarasov noted, indicating an eleven-fold increase compared to earlier editions of the race.
The course itself offered runners a scenic tour, passing by notable Moscow landmarks and providing picturesque views as they navigated the central thoroughfares.
In the fiercely contested men's race, Ethiopia's Teresa Gela crossed the finish line first in a winning time of 1 hour, 1 minute, and 11 seconds. He was closely followed by Kenya's Emmanuel Wafula, who secured second place with a time of 1:01:19, and fellow Kenyan Henry Juma, who rounded out the top three in 1:02:20.
The women's category also saw an East African triumph, with Kenya's Daisy Rutto taking the gold medal in 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 40 seconds. Russia's own Natalia Aristarkhova earned the silver medal with a time of 1:12:10, while Alla Sidorova completed the top three finishers in 1:13:18.
The dominant performance by Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes underscores their continued global leadership in long-distance running, once again proving their ability to excel even when faced with unfamiliar conditions.