Moroccan, Ethiopian athletes win Istanbul marathon

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

Athletes from Morocco and Ethiopia on Nov. 16 won the 36th Vodafone Istanbul Marathon, dubbed “the only intercontinental race in the world.”

Hafid Chani won the men’s competition, finishing the 42-kilometer course in two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds, becoming the first athlete from Morocco to win the race in its history. Chani will a $50,000 prize for finishing first.

Ethiopia’s Gebo Burka came second after finishing the course in 2:12.23, while Kenya’s Michael Kiprop followed him in a time of 2:12.39.

Burka will receive $25,000, while Kiprop is set to go home with $15,000.

In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Amane Gobena was the winner, finishing the race in two hours, 28 minutes and 46 seconds.

Compatriot Salomie Getnet and Ukrainian Olena Burkovska followed, respectively. Getnet finished in 2:30.36, while Burkovska posted 2:31.30.

Turkish athletes Elvan Abeylegesse and Ümmü Kiraz followed them in the fifth and sixth spots, respectively

The run began 300 meters before the Bosphorus Bridge on the Asian side with the participation of Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş and Sports and Youth Minister Akif Kılıç.

“Today, [people] will run for the love of Istanbul. Istanbul is a beautiful city between two continents. We will experience this beauty together,” Topbaş said before giving the start signal at 9 a.m.

Almost 25,000 athletes and racing enthusiasts from 118 countries participated in the marathon, as well as 15- and 10-kilometer runs. 

The public run started at 9:30, with the son of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bilal Erdoğan, among the attendees.