17th May, 2010
Kenyan athletes take control of Salzburg AMREF marathon
Cold weather and pouring rain did not stop Kenyan runners from dominating the 7th Salzburg AMREF Marathon, which had more than 4,700 participants from more than 30 different countries – the biggest number recorded since the marathon started.
Despite the foul weather, the African athletes, many of them guests of AMREF, remained focused and could not be distracted from their quest to ‘Run for African Mothers’ – the theme of the marathon this year.
Thomas Barmoiben Ngelel from Kenya easily won the full marathon in 2:20:30, taking the lead from start to finish and running a lone race. Second was Karl Aumayr from Austria (2:25:25). Wolfgang Wallner, also from Austria, came in third with a time of 2:35:22.
Similarly, Viola Bor, also from Kenya, won the women’s marathon in a time of 2:39:34 with minimal competition, finishing more than 14 minutes ahead of second-placed Sabine Hofer from Austria (2:53:52). Third was Ilse Wieshuber, also from Austria, with 2:55:44.
Ethiopian Gidena Mirach Gebremedhin won the men’s half marathon in 1:04:39, defending the title he won last year, and running faster than he did in 2009 despite the bad weather. He was followed closely by the Kenyan Laban Korir (1:10:48), while Klemens Bernegger from Austria came in third (1:11:48).
The fastest woman in the half marathon was Kenya’s Diana Sigei in a time of 1:14:50. Italian Christa Rauch came in a distance second in 1:26:24. Third was Christina Pracher from Austria with a time of 1:29:53.
The Salzburg AMREF Marathon opened on Saturday with the Coca-Cola Junior Marathon, where more than 1,500 children between 10 and 16 were running for AMREF. This is the biggest racing event for children in Austria.
The Salzburg AMREF Marathon is not just an outstanding sports event, but also a charity event. Money raised will go towards supporting projects run by AMREF, with focus on promoting maternal health and reducing the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth. Dignitiaries at the event included Kenya’s Minister for Internal Security, Prof George Saitoti, and the mayor of the city of Salzburg, Dr Heinz Schaden.
Several VIPs ran the race too, including Italian actress Caterina Murino, Mrs Consolata Kiragu from the Kenyan Embassy in Vienna and diplomats and officials from the Ethiopian Embassy in Vienna. The victorious athletes return to the country on Tuesday, May 18, at 6pm.
Several build-up events were organised by AMREF in Austria in the week before the marathon in a cultural programme dubbed ‘Days of Dialogue’, including a series of African films, lectures, workshops and other networking forums. One of the key events was the ‘Black & White’ evening get-together which was attended by many celebrities, including Austrian-born top model Iris Strubegger.
Marathon times:
Marathon Men
1. Thomas Ngelel (Kenya) – 2:20:30
2. Karl Aumayr (Austria) – 2:25:25
3. Wolfgang Wallner (Austria) – 2:35:22
Marathon Women
1. Viola Bor (Kenya) – 2:39:34
2. Dr Sabine Hofer (Austria) – 2:53:52
3. Ilse Wieshuber (Austria) – 2:55:44
Half Marathon Men
1. Gidena Gebremedhin (Ethiopia) – 1:04:39
2. Laban Korir (Kenya) – 1:10:48
3. Klemens Bernegger (Austria) – 1:11:48
Half Marathon Women
1. Diana Sigei (Kenya) – 1:14:50
2. Christa Rauch (Italy) – 1:26:24
3. Christina Pracher (Austria) – 1:29:53
