FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Zurich Marató de Barcelona Sets New Records
-Almost 20.000 runners, the race consolidates as one of the best of Europe
-New Feminine record of the Kenyan Emily Chepkomy, who has pulverized the
feminine record with 2h26'52"
-Abderrahman Ait Khamouch's World Paralympic Record
-Record of public in the streets
The Kenyan Julius Chepkowony, debutant in marathon races, won the Zurich
Marató de Barcelona with a time of 2h11'14". The 34th edition of the race
has gathered almost 20.000 runners. The Kenyan Emily Chepkomy Samoei
pulverized the feminine record of the Barcelona marathon setting a new
record time in 2h26'52", three minutes below the record of the Spaniard
Anabel Alonso, which was registered in 1997 (2h30'04"). The record of the
Kenyan is the second fastest than has never been achieved in a marathon
disputed in Spain, only one second over the record of 2h26'53" obtained by
Ana Isabel Alonso in the marathon of San Sebastián in 1995.
But this one has not been the unique record of the Zurich Marató de
Barcelona 2012, as the Spanish based from Morocco Abderrahman Ait Khamouch
has reached the minimal and secured his participation in the Paralympic
Games of London setting a new world Paralympic record in the category T46
(amputated of arm) with a registered time of 2h25'43". Khamouch, paralympic
sub champion of 1.500 meters and bronze medal in 800m in Beijing 2008, took
part in his first marathon and reducing in 1'21" the world record of the
category, set in 2008 by the Mexican runner Mario Sanmillán in 2h27'04".
In Spain, the Zurich Marató de Barcelona has also granted two minimal
registers for the Olympic Games of London, for José Carlos Hernández, from
Tenerife, eighth overall with 2h11'57" in the masculine category and the
debutant Elena Espeso, from Valladolid, who was the third woman with a time
of 2h30'52", best ninth Spanish record of all the times. Chema Martínez,
from Madrid, who was proclaimed European sub champion of marathon in this
city back in 2010, had physical problems and had to abandon in the Km. 28,
while the Catalan Jaume Leiva, 15th with 2h19'23" could not reach his
objective either.
The 23 year-old Julius Chempkowony, overtook in the in Finish Line his
compatriots Japhet Kipchirchir Kipkorir, second with 2h11'32" and Willy
Kimutai Kangogo, third with 2h11'35", while the Ucranian Ivan Babaryka,
fifth with 2h11'48", was the first European athlete and José Carlos
Hernández has been the best Spanish runner with his 8th position. In
female, the second position has been for the Ethiopian Biruktayit Kshetu
Degefa, with a registered time of 2h29'52", over two minutes than the one
she accredited, while Espeso has been third with 2h30'52". A total of 11
men and 4 women have run below the Olympic minimal times (2h14'00 and
2h34'00").
The race has been divided since the first moment into two groups of
athletes of elite. The first one, where the Africans were, has passed the
half marathon in 1h05'39", with a group of seven athletes leaded by the
Kenyan Kennedy Kimutai, as pacemaker, and in which there were also his
compatriots Japhet Kipchirchir Kipkorir, Julius Chepkowony, Wilfred
Kipkosgei Murgor and Willy Kimutai Kangogo and the Ethiopians Samuel
Woldeamanuel and Melese Birhanu Nguse. With the retirement of Kennedy
Kimutai, the six African athletes have been together up to a bit before km.
35, where the Kenyan Peter Kiplagat Sitienei has joined them. Behind, thre
was an approaching group with the Brazilian Paulo Paula, José Carlos
Hernández, the Ukrainian Iván Babaryka and the Kenyan Elijah Kiprono
Kemboi. Two kilometers before the finish line Chepkowny, Kipchirchir
Kipkorir and Kimutai Kangogo fought for the victory.
In females, the race has been disputed between Emily Chepkomy Samoei and
Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa. The Ethiopian has dominated up to the half
marathon (1h13'05), but the Kenyan overtook her in the Km 30 and headed to
the victory.
With 19.507 runners inscribed and 16.216 finishers, the Zurich Marató de
Barcelona has turned into the race of 42,195km most multitudinous of Europe
in 2012. The participants, organized with corrals according to their times,
needed 18 minutes to go out in three different starts. The race set also a
new record of followers in the streets of Barcelona.
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