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MARATHON

Sweden’s Mikaela Larsson wins Stockholm marathon

Sweden's Mikaela Larsson has won the Stockholm Marathon for the first time, completing the course in an impressive two hours and 40 minutes despite the searing 27C temperature.

Published: 2 June 2018 16:24 CEST
Sweden's Mikaela Larsson wins Stockholm marathon
Mikaela Larsson (c) celebrates her victory, alongside second placed Beji Bekelu (l) from Ethiopia and third place Caroline Almkvist (r) from Sweden.
“Today I felt the spectators helped me pull out something extra over and over again. It was absolutely fantastic,” Larsson told Sweden’s SVT broadcaster. “I’m tired but terribly happy. I hadn’t expected this beforehand.”  
 
At the 30km mark, Larsson spurted ahead of her Ethiopian rival Beju Bekelu, building a lead of three minutes and 27 seconds by the finishing line. 
 
In the run-up to the start, many had feared that the 27C temperatures would mean runner collapsing from heat exhaustion, but the arrival of clouds just before the start made the contest slightly cooler than expected. 
 
Kenyan Lawi Kiptui won the men’s competition with a dramatic finish which saw him overtake and power ahead of his Ethiopian rival Bazu Worku. 
 
“It was an extremely hot race,” Kiptui told SVT. “I focused on nothing but winning.” 
 
The sports commentator and statistician Lennart Julin told the TV4 channel that Kiptui’s final spurt had been “one of the most extraordinary victories in the history of the Stockholm Marathon”. 
 
 

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MARATHON

Berlin marathon cancelled for 2020 over coronavirus

The organisers of the Berlin Marathon said Wednesday that they have cancelled the race for 2020 due to problems finding an alternative date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published: 24 June 2020 17:11 CEST
Berlin marathon cancelled for 2020 over coronavirus
Berlin marathon runners in 2019. Photo: DPA

The race was initially postponed from April to September 27th, but organisers have now cancelled this year's event, which attracted 62,000 runners in 2019, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Due to the weather conditions alone and shortening days, it's very difficult to hold the Berlin Marathon… before the end of this year,” said race director Jürgen Jock.

“The question of whether athletes will be able to travel internationally again by then cannot be answered now.” 

Organisers added: “Your health, as well as all of our health, is our first priority.

“Therefore, taking into account the Containment Measures Ordinance due to the COVID-19 pandemic… the Berlin Marathon 2020 will not be able to take place.”

The city of Berlin has banned events with more than 5,000 participants since April.

The flat, fast course around Berlin's city centre is where Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya set the men's world marathon record of 2hr 01min 39sec in 2018.

It was the eighth time in the previous 20 years that the men's world record has fallen on the streets of Berlin.

Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 over the marathon distance in Vienna last October, but the time is not recognised as a world record as the event was not an open competition.

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