DAEGU, South Korea (April 3) – Ethiopian runners Ayantu Abera and Milkesa Mengesha took home the women’s and men’s titles at the Daegu Marathon 2023 – World Athletics Gold Label Road Race held on Sunday (2). The competition saw Abera finish the women’s race with a personal best time of 2:25:44, while Mengesha clocked 2:06:49 to secure victory in the men’s race.
Abera’s victory is especially significant as she returned to international competition after more than three years away. The 28-year-old had previously won the Padova and Suzhou Marathons, and is now back in top form after improving her previous PB from 2:29:30. Read more: 2023 Paris Marathon top 20 results; Abeje Ayana and Helah Kiprop win titles
Medina Deme from Ethiopia finished second in the women’s race, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:27:27, while Janet Ruguru Gichumbi from Kenya followed in third place with a time of 2:28:13. Chaltu Shuna from Ethiopia and Kyungsun Choi from South Korea completed the top five with personal times of 2:28:46 and 2:28:49, respectively.
Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Stanley Kiprotich Bett from Kenya took home the silver medal behind Mengesha with a time of 2:07:00, and was followed by Berhane Tsegay from Eritrea with a time of 2:07:21. Both runners setting personal bests.
Mike Kiptum Boit from Kenya and Bethwel Kipkemboi Rutto from Kenya finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively with times of 2:07:23 and 2:07:34. Daniel Paulus set a Namibian record with a time of 2:08:40 for 8th place.
Abel Kirui, the 2009 and 2011 world champion and Olympic silver medalist in 2012 from Kenya, completed the race in 2:09:45 to finish in 12th place. Despite being 40 years old, Kirui continues to rank highly among athletes with more sub-2h10 performances, posting his 21st in that column.
The course records for the Daegu Marathon are held by Nazret Weldu from Eritrea and Filex Kipchirchir Kiprotich from Kenya for the women’s and men’s races, respectively. Weldu completed the course in 2:21:56 in 2022, while Kiprotich clocked 2:05:33 in 2019.
Men’s Marathon Results
- Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) – 2:06:49
- Stanley Bett (KEN) – 2:07:00
- Berhane Tsegay Tekle (ERI) – 2:07:21
- Mike Kiptum Boit (KEN) – 2:07:23
- Bethwell Kipkemboi (KEN) – 2:07:34
- Goitom Kifle (ERI) – 2:08:15
- Edwin Kosgei (KEN) – 2:08:37
- Daniel Nghidinwa Paulus (NAM) – 2:08:40 NR
- Samuel Kiplimo Kosgei (KEN) – 2:08:49
- Evans Korir (KEN) – 2:08:59
- Abida Ezamzami (MAR) – 2:09:04
- Abel Kirui (KEN) – 2:09:45
- Dagnachew Adere (ETH) – 2:10:21
- Ezekiel Chepkorom (UGA) – 2:11:56
- Jae-won Jeon (KOR) – 2:18:50
- Seungwon Yang (KOR) – 2:19:25
- Yo-han Park (KOR) – 2:20:44
- Sejong Kim (KOR) – 2:21:41
- Muyoung Park (KOR) – 2:23:50
- Dae-young Yu (KOR) – 2:24:23
Women’s Marathon Results
- Ayantu Abera Demisse (ETH) – 2:25:44
- Medina Deme Armino (ETH) – 2:27:27
- Janet Ruguru (KEN) – 2:28:13
- Ketabo Chaltu Shuna (ETH) – 2:28:46
- Kyungsun Choi (KOR) – 2:28:49
- Munkhzaya Bayartsogt (MGL) – 2:29:32
- Selam Fente (ETH) – 2:30:30
- Abebech Afework (ETH) – 2:31:03
- Risper Chebet (KEN) – 2:31:13
- Helalia Johannes (NAM) – 2:31:33
- Hyun-ji Jung (KOR) – 2:38:03
- Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh (MGL) – 2:39:33
- Dal-nim Oh (KOR) – 2:41:18
- Gulshanoi Satarova (KGZ) – 2:41:41
- Dolgormaa Bayarsaikhan (MGL) – 2:51:29
