Fatshimetrie, the blog dedicated to running and sporting events, closely followed the Madrid Marathon which took place last Sunday. A sea of runners, totaling tens of thousands of participants, took to the streets of the Spanish city for this grueling competition.
Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes particularly distinguished themselves during this event, dominating both men and women. On the men’s side, an Ethiopian runner quickly took the lead in the race, widening a significant gap with his competitors. Despite physical difficulties at the end of the race, including heat stroke and a hamstring injury, he was able to draw on his resources to cross the finish line in first position, thus winning his second major race of his career.
Mitku Tafa, as he is called, was closely followed by another Ethiopian runner, Fikre Bekele, and the Kenyan Douglas Chebii, who took third place. Tafa set a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 58 seconds, confirming his place among the elite of distance athletes.
Among the women, Naom Jebet, champion of the Nairobi Marathon in 2023, impressed by winning her first international victory in Madrid. Leading the final stretch, she finished the race in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 20 seconds, relegating second place to Ethiopian Bontu Bekele. Another Ethiopian athlete, Kebene Chala, reached the third step of the podium, thus completing this winning trio.
This Madrid Marathon was a true festival of sporting performances, highlighting the talent and determination of African runners. These great champions knew how to push their limits and offer us a memorable show, imbued with emotion and surpassing oneself. Fatshimetrie salutes their achievement and congratulates them on their incredible performance.
For more information, check out the article on the Madrid Marathon from Africanews.