Ethiopia's Beyene Gezahn wins Marrakech International Marathon 2011

Submitted by editor on 31 January 2011 - 7:50pm
Ethiopian Shumi Gerbaba winning the Casablanca Marathon last year/ Photo: Star Africa.Com

Ethiopia's Girma Beyene Gezahn has won the 22nd Marrakech international Marathon crossing 42.195 km course in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 22 seconds on Sunday.

The second place was taken by his countryman Shumi Gerbaba Etisha (2:11.08) and followed by Moroccan Mourad Maaroufit (2:11.20) in third position.

In the women's race, Ethiopdian Wudnesh Nega Debele finished first posting 2:37.00, ahead of Moroccan Soumia Labani (2:37.08) with Ethiopian Demsem Dehinet Jara  third (2:39.34).

The men's Marathon record was set in 1999 by Moroccan Abdelkader El Mouaziz, three-time winner (1996, 1997 and 1999) while Romanian Adriana Barbu holds the woman’s record (2:29.21) since 1994.

Special award

Meanwhile, the former Moroccan Olympic champion, Nawal El Moutawakel, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was last week in Lausanne, Switzerland awarded the "Power of Sport" prize, by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

The award was handed to El Moutawakel for being the first Arab and Muslim woman to win the Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984 in the 400m hurdles, and her fiery battle for the participation of women in sports.

She was also rewarded for her efforts within the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the IOC.

Selected Results

 

Marathon:

MEN
1. Girma Beyene (ETH) 2:10:22
2. Shumi Gerbaba (ETH) 2:11:08
3. Mourad Maarofit (MAR) 2:11:20
4. Hillary Kipchumba (KEN) 2:11:44
5. Urige Arabo Buta (NOR) 2:11:47
6. Berhanu Shiferaw Tolcha (ETH) 2:12:12
7. Haylu Abebe (ETH) 2:12.47
8. Hassan Belkhainouch (MAR) 2:13:00
9. Abunejnedi Sultan (ETH) 2:15:07
10. Gosa Tadesse (ETH) 2:15:38

WOMEN
1. Wudnesh Nega (ETH) 2:37:00
2. Soumia Labani (MAR) 2:37:08
3. Demsem Dehinet (ETH) 2:39:34
4. Gadise Fita (ETH) 2:39:41
5. Bayush Abebe (ETH) 2:42:29

Half Marathon:

MEN
1. Mulugeta Wendimu (ETH) 1:02:00
2. Kennedy Kummutai (KEN) 1:02:05
3. Elaziz Mostapha (MAR) 1:02:09
4. Woldemikael Feyisa (ETH) 1:02:27
5. Mourad Elbannouri (MAR) 1:02:35

WOMEN
1. Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR) 1:10:47 (Race Record)
2. Kareema Yasin (BAH) 1:11:06
3. Samira Raïf (MAR) 1:11:10
4. Malika Belfakir (MAR) 1:12:11
5. Seada Kedir (ETH) 1:13:49