Ethiopia’s Abeje Ayana yesterday upset favorite Guye Adola to win the Paris Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 15 seconds.
The 20-year-old pulled clear of Adola, 32, in the closing 5km to mark his arrival on the international stage.
Adola, who won the Berlin Marathon in 2021, crossed the line 20 seconds behind, with Kenya’s Josphat Boit four seconds further back in third.
Photo: Reuters
The race was run in difficult wet and windy weather preventing any attempt on Elisha Rotich’s course record of 2 hours, 4 minutes, 21 seconds.
The women’s race was won by Helah Kiprop in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 19 seconds.
The Kenyan pipped Ethiopian duo Atalel Anmut and Fikrte Wereta in a sprint for the line.
The 42.195km route started on the French capital’s iconic Champs-Elysees before heading through the Bois de Vincennes park, along the Seine river, looping around the Bois de Boulogne to end near the Arc de Triomphe.
The route is different to that of the Paris Olympic marathon next year, which is to start at the city’s historic Hotel de Ville, or town hall, before heading towards Versailles and returning to the central Esplanade des Invalides.
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