Ethiopia’s Manazot Siyum Taferi claimed victory in the 43rd Athens Authentic Marathon on Sunday, November 8, setting a new course record as he crossed the finish line at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 3 seconds. Taferi completed the demanding 42.195-kilometer route from Marathon to Athens 31 seconds faster than the previous record of 2:10:34, established by Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo in 2023.
The Ethiopian runner entered the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, to enthusiastic applause from spectators, smiling as traditional Greek music played. His performance was particularly notable given the course’s challenging hills, which make the Athens Marathon considerably more demanding than many of the world’s leading city marathons.
Ethiopian runners dominate as Greek champion finishes eighth
Taferi faced strong competition from compatriot Assefa Tefera Mengisa, who finished second in 2:10:18, just 15 seconds behind the winner. Kenya’s Patrick Keter Kiplagat secured third place in 2:11:22, followed by fellow Kenyan Vincent Kipsang Rono in 2:12:06.
Eritrea’s Nguse Amlosom Tesfaldet completed the top five in 2:12:20, while Kenya’s Victor Kipkech Bigwot and Ethiopia’s Adane Nega finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Greece’s Konstantinos Stamoulis was the first Greek athlete to finish, placing eighth overall in 2:17:37. His performance also earned him the national marathon championship title.
The Athens course is known for its sustained uphill sections, particularly between the 10th and 31st kilometers, before runners descend toward the capital and enter the marble stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held.
Record participation celebrates marathon’s historic birthplace
This year’s event also established a new participation record, with 85,000 registrations across the races held during the November 7–8 weekend, according to the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS).
Approximately 25,000 runners registered for the full marathon, while thousands more participated in the 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer races, university competitions and shorter events for children and athletes with disabilities.
The organizers reported participants from 125 countries, reflecting the event’s growing international appeal.
The Athens Authentic Marathon follows the legendary route associated with the messenger who, according to tradition, ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BC. The story inspired the creation of the modern marathon at the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, when Greek runner Spyridon Louis won the inaugural Olympic race, finishing inside the Panathenaic Stadium.
The annual Athens Marathon traces its modern history to 1972, while the numbering of the present series began in 1983. The event is dedicated to Grigoris Lambrakis, the Greek athlete, physician and politician assassinated in 1963. More than a century after Louis’ Olympic triumph, Taferi’s record-breaking performance added another chapter to the history of the original marathon course.
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