Rebecca Tanui outwits Ethiopian duo in 37th Venice Marathon
Kenyan athlete Rebecca Tanui emerged victorious in the 37th edition of the Venice Marathon, held on a Sunday.
During the race, Tanui and Ethiopian runner Kebene Chala ran together and reached the halfway point in an impressive time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Rebecca Tanui breaks away
Around the 30th kilometre mark, Tanui launched an attack, pulling ahead and continuing to race solo until reaching the finish line at Riva Sette Martiri.
She completed the marathon in an excellent time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 35 seconds.
In second place was Chala, who finished with a time of 2 hours and 26 minutes, 38 seconds, significantly improving her personal best by more than 4 minutes.
The third-place finisher was another Ethiopian, Bedada Tigist, who also achieved a personal best with a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes, 6 seconds.
The first Italian athlete to cross the finish line was Giorgia Bonci, representing Gs Lamone, who secured the eleventh position with a time of 3 hours and 11 minutes, 17 seconds.
About Venice Marathon
The Venice Marathon was initially conceived by Piero Rosa Salva in 1986. The inaugural edition of the marathon attracted over 2,000 runners from various nations and was quickly established as one of the season’s most significant events. Over the years, it evolved into one of the premier sporting events, culminating in the 37th edition.
The Venice Marathon is recognized internationally and holds the IAAF Bronze Label. The classic distance for this marathon is 42.195 kilometers, making it one of the most revered events in the field of athletics.
Today, the Venice Marathon remains an event of exceptional quality, as reflected in its IAAF Bronze Label. It continues to captivate and draw runners, with demand consistently surpassing the organizer’s limit of 8,000 entries. The marathon expo and the race itself attract large crowds, following a captivating course.
The Venice Marathon extends beyond being merely a “Marathon of Venice.” It encompasses a range of events and initiatives that garner widespread interest from various groups, not just runners. The San Giuliano Park, Europe’s second-largest park, is at the heart of the week leading up to the marathon. T
his week includes the opening of the Venice Marathon Expo Village on Friday and the Family Run on Saturday, a 4K fun race that attracts thousands of school children and youngsters from the Venetian province. Similar Family Runs are organized in nearby towns in the weeks leading up to the main marathon event.
The Venice Marathon also places a significant emphasis on solidarity through its Venice Marathon Charity Program. This program is prominently promoted by Alex Zanardi, a para-Olympic gold medalist and former auto racing star.