ATHENS, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Manazot Siyum Taferi won the 43rd Athens Authentic Marathon on Sunday, clocking 2:10:03 over the classic 42.195km course from the historic town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens.
Taferi broke the course record of 2:10:34 set by Kenya's Edwin Kiptoo in 2023, improving the previous mark by 31 seconds.
Taferi's compatriot Asefa Tefera Mengisha finished second in 2:10:18, followed by Kenya's Patrick Keter Kiplagat in third in 2:11:22.
In the women's race, Ethiopia's Yatane Kormoshe Dusha claimed victory in 2:30:04.
A record 85,000 runners from 125 countries and regions participated in this year's event, making it the largest in the race's history, according to the organizing committee of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS).
A total of 25,000 runners took part in the marathon itself, while the two-day event on Nov. 7-8 also featured 10km and 5km road races, a 5km university night run, a 1,200m children's race and a 1,200m race for people with disabilities.
The Athens Authentic Marathon follows the legendary route associated with the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides, who is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. The race finishes at the Panathenaic Stadium, which hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. ■
