Bernard Kiprop Koech repeated his success from last year and also won the 38th Hamburg Marathon. His compatriot Irine Cheptai made a strong debut in the 42.195 kilometers. More participants than ever took part in the running spectacle on the Elbe. Katharina Steinruck experienced a bitter day.
With his winning time of 2:04:24 hours, Koech narrowly missed his course record from 2023 (2:04:09), but was satisfied: “It was my day. I’m very happy that I defended my title. I was perfectly prepared,” said the 36-year-old. Haymanot Alew from Ethiopia came second in the strong elite field in 2:05:30 hours.
Hendel impressed with a personal best
Sebastian Hendel (LG Braunschweig) showed a convincing performance, improving his personal best time by around one and a half minutes in 2:08:51 hours and crossing the finish line in tenth place. “Super happy, super best time and Hamburg was absolutely awesome. So many people on the route, thank you Hamburg! You carried me well to the finish,” the 28-year-old cheered.
The leading group around Koech had set a high pace in the first ten kilometers and was heading for a final time of just under 2:03 hours. Up to the half marathon mark, the race became a little slower and was a little above the course record, but last year’s winner finally took the initiative at the 30 kilometer mark, increased the pace again and steadily pulled away from a small chasing group. In the last few kilometers, however, the 36-year-old had to pay tribute to going it alone.
Kenyan Cheptai wins her marathon debut
In the women’s category, the Kenyans Irine Cheptai and Winfridah Moseti fought a thrilling duel. Both were almost misdirected shortly before the finish, which apparently had a more negative impact on Moseti, who was only three seconds slower at the end, than her compatriot. In the final sprint, Cheptai also benefited from her hard pace on the shorter distances and triumphed in her marathon debut in 2:18:22 hours.
“I’m happy, I didn’t expect such a fast time, more like 2:21 or 2:22,” said the winner. The performances of the two Kenyans are the second and third fastest times in the history of the marathon in the Hanseatic city.
Photo gallery
The most beautiful pictures from the Hamburg Marathon 2024
Katharina Steinruck falls over the food table
Katharina Steinruck (Eintracht Frankfurt), who was running well until after the half marathon mark, was unlucky but then fell over a refreshment table because her view was obscured. The 34-year-old gave up injured in tears. She actually wanted to break the “family record” of 2:24:35 hours, which her mother and trainer Katrin Dörre-Heinig had also set in Hamburg 25 years earlier. Sebastian Hendel’s wife Kristina Hendel (LG Braunschweig) also got out.
“A runner running in front of her lost his stride”
“We looked closely at the TV images,” said Hamburg Marathon press spokesman Rainald Achilles when asked by NDR. “It looks as if a runner running in front of her suddenly lost his stride. It seems as if he grabbed the wrong bottle, so he stopped and slowed down. Katharina Steinruck then apparently tried to avoid him and is ran into the table.” According to Achilles, after evaluating the TV images, this was not in the running track.
Rabea Schöneborn was far behind her house record (2:27:03), but made it to the finish line in 13th place with an energy performance of 2:35:07 hours. “It could have been a little faster. But it was important to me to push through and finish the race. I’m happy about that,” summed up the athlete from SCC Berlin.
Young runner needs to be revived
There was a dramatic incident not too far from the finish line. A runner in the age group between mid-20s and 30s had to be resuscitated near Dammtorbahnhof. Achilles confirmed corresponding media reports to NDR. The runner was taken to hospital by ambulance. According to Achilles, he cannot yet provide any further information about its current condition.
Registration record and party along the route
A total of 38,000 participants registered for the various routes, including 15,000 for the 42.195 kilometers – a record. For comparison: Last year there were 11,800 registrations. This time the running spectacle was fully booked at all distances. In very good conditions, tens of thousands lined the route and cheered on the runners.
This topic in the program:
sports club | 28.04.2024 | 09:15 a.m