Kenyan Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo Sets New Record in Athens Marathon

Kenyan runner Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo broke the Athens Marathon The Authentic record on Sunday finishing in 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 34 seconds.

The African runner was the first to arrive at Panathenaic Stadium amidst thousands of people waiting to applaud the first athlete and the rest of the participants in the classic race.

Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo set a new Marathon race record covering the 42.195-klm distance in 2 hours 10 minutes and 34 seconds. Last year, the 30-year-old athlete finished in fourth place with 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 23 seconds.

Until now, the Athens Marathon The Original record was held by Felix Kipchirchir Kandie from Kenya in 2014.

Kenyan Rhonzai Lokitam Kilimo finished in second place with 2 hours, 12 minutes and 36 seconds, and Felicien Muhitira from Rwanda secured the third with 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 36 seconds also.

“I want to thank the organizers for inviting me. I want to thank my family. I wasn’t well prepared, I didn’t expect to break the record. I pushed a lot and I succeeded”, the winner said.

Greek Athlete Karaiskos Wins Greek Championship

The first Greek athlete and winner of the Panhellenic Championship was Panagiotis Karaiskos, finishing in seventh place in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds.

The Panhellenic Championship is held as part of the Athens Marathon The Authentic, and the Greek champion is determined after the race.

“It is my ninth participation and ninth finish, my fourth medal combined with a gold medal and an individual performance on this race. I am very happy, I am vindicated,” he said after the finish.

“I knew I was in good shape, I wanted to confirm it in one race. No one is sure of success, but I made it and I am very happy for it,” Karaiskos continued.

“I am closing a 10-year cycle with the 40th Athens Marathon, Tomorrow a new day begins, new records, new dreams and I move forward,” he concluded.

Charalambos Pitsolis finished second in 2 hours, 23  minutes, and 34 seconds, and Giorgos Minos finished third in 2 hours, 23 minutes and, and 56 seconds.

History of the Athens Marathon

The Athens Marathon The Authentic is held in Athens in early November (the second Sunday of November), since 1972. It also often serves as Greece’s national marathon championships.

It is a joint venture between the Greek tourist board and the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

It is a very popular race since it is taking place in the actual route from Marathon where the monument of the historic 490 BC battle took place to the Athens Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Every year, tens of thousands of visitors and participants flock to Athens to be part of this major athletic event. The race attracted 43,000 competitors in 2015 of which 16,000 were for the 42.195 kilometers  (26.2 miles) course, both numbers being an all-time record for the event.

The marathon race and course is inspired by the Ancient Greek legend of Pheidippides, a messenger soldier who is said to have run from Marathon to Athens (or to Sparta and then Athens) to bring news of the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.

Taking from the tradition of the Olympic Torch, the race features the Marathon Flame, which is lit at the Monument of the Battle of Marathon and carried to the stadium in Marathon before the beginning of each race.