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Ugandan runner Solomon Mutai set a new race record for the year, clinching victory in a thrilling sprint and once again outpacing Kenyan athlete Emmanuel Naibei in the Venice Marathon.

Under the bright sunshine of a beautiful autumn day, Mutai crossed the finish line at Riva Sette Martiri, securing first place for the second consecutive year.

Mutai beat Naibei

He accomplished this feat with an astounding record time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 41 seconds, a personal best.

In an electrifying finish, Mutai edged out Naibei by a mere centimetre, with Naibei finishing second in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 41 seconds.

Naibei also managed to improve his personal best by almost a minute.

Right from the initial kilometers, the men’s race was a fiercely contested battle among African athletes who maintained a consistent pace. Nine of them reached the halfway point at the half marathon in precisely 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 45 seconds, as per the pre-race expectations.

As the race progressed past the 30th kilometer, the lead group began to narrow, primarily due to the exertions of Mutai, Naibei, and another Kenyan, Noah Kigen.

Naibei, Mutai lead charge

Upon entering Venice, Kigen fell behind, leaving Mutai and Naibei to lead the charge side by side, tackling 14 bridges together in an exhilarating final sprint. In the end, Mutai emerged victorious over Naibei in a neck-and-neck battle.

The third-place finisher, Noah Kigen, also from Kenya, set a personal record with a time of 2 hours and 8 minutes and 18 seconds, completing one of the fastest podiums ever in the men’s race.

Eighth place and the title of the first Italian finisher went to Abdoullah Bamoussa, a 3000m steeplechaser from Atl. Brugnera Friulintagli, who completed the race in 2 hours and 21 minutes.

Mutai’s repeat victory adds another accolade to Uganda’s success in the Venice Marathon, while Rebecca Tanui’s win extends Kenya’s dominance in the women’s field to 15 victories.

Additionally, in the second edition of the Half Marathon, which started in Mestre and finished at Riva Sette Martiri, an all-foreign male podium featured Kenyan Eric Too Kimutai as the winner, clocking in at 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 56 seconds. He was followed by the Frenchman Ouail Tabroura and the Spaniard Pedro Jesus Galan. In the women’s category, an Italian athlete, Claudia Andrighettoni from Quercia Rovereto, clinched victory for the second consecutive year with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 29 seconds, ahead of Vanina Dal Santo and Federica Panciera.

Furthermore, in the 10-kilometer race that commenced at San Giuliano Park and concluded in Venice, the top position among men was secured by Federico Valandro, a cross-country skier from Assindustria Padova, who finished in 36 minutes and 12 seconds. Diletta Moressa from Mestre (Coin Venezia) dominated the women’s race for the second year in a row, completing the race in 40 minutes and 50 seconds.