Copenhagen, Denmark, 14 May — Kenyans Rodah Chepkorir Tanui and Solomon Kirwa battled through humid conditions to win the women’s and men’s respective titles at the 2023 Copenhagen Marathon on Sunday. Tanui ran a new race record time of 2:23:14 to win the women’s title, while Kirwa secured the men’s crown with a time of 2:09:12.
Tanui Wins Women’s Title
Running her second marathon of the year, Tanui pulled away from the field to better her personal best from 2:25:46, which was set in Buenos Aires on 22 September 2019. She ran 2:28:30 for sixth place in her other marathon race in 2023 in Riyadh in February.
For her top performance today, Tanui collected €$6000 for the win and an extra €$3000 in bonus prize for breaking the race record. Look for her to race in other big marathon races in the near future!
Valentina Mateiko, the 2014 World Junior 3000m bronze medalist, made an impressive start to her marathon career in the extremely hot condition in Copenhagen today, clocking in at 2:25:05 to take second place on debut before being well received by her Kenyan teammate at the finish line.
Philippa Bowden of Great Britain also smashed her personal best big time when she ran in at 2:29:16 for third place, lowering her previous mark by almost five minutes.
The top American finisher today in the women’s contest was Roberta Groner, the 2019 World Championship sixth place finisher, who ran 2:31:37 to take sixth place today as well.
Karen Ehrenreich won the Danish title with a time of 2:35:02 for 9th place overall, with Stine Schønning a distant second place in the Danish Championships at 2:45:10.
Kirwa Leads Kenyan Sweep in Men’s Race
Meanwhile, Solomon Kirwa led a Kenyan podium sweep in the men’s race at the 2023 Copenhagen Marathon. The 36-year-old, running for the first time in the Copenhagen race, made it a fruitful debut at the Denmark event, clocking in at 2:09:12 for first place after surging away from his rivals after the 40km mark.
Edwin Kiptoo of Kenya, who led after the halfway mark, was second in the end with a time of 2:09:51, followed by countrymen Kenneth Keter, who posted 2:02:47 for third place and Pius Karanja in fourth at 2:04:08.
T-Roy Brown was the best-placed male runner from the United States today, taking 18th place with a time of 2:21:17.
Karen Ehrenreich was crowned the Denmark champion after he finished at 2:35:02 for 9th overall, while Andreas Lommer of Denmark, who changed his race plans to work with Tanui in her chase for glory today, ran out of gas and finished with a time of 2:23:50.
The 2023 Copenhagen Marathon is part of the 2023 World Athletics Label Road Race series.
2023 Copenhagen Marathon
Men’s Top 25 Results
- Solomon Kirwa (Kenya) – 2:09:12
- Kenneth Keter (Kenya) – 2:09:41
- Edwin Kiptoo (Kenya) – 2:09:51
- Pius Karanja (Kenya) – 2:11:24
- Nicolas Cuestas (Uruguay) – 2:11:30
- Brimin Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:13:29
- Mohamed El Ghazouany (Morocco) – 2:14:18
- Omar Hassan (Neutral Nationality) – 2:14:21
- Jacob Sommer Simonsen (Denmark) – 2:14:46
- Samir Benali (Morocco) – 2:14:52
- Reuben Kiprop (Kenya) – 2:15:20
- Hillary Kipsambu (Kenya) – 2:17:49
- Rune Bækgaard (Denmark) – 2:18:54
- Miguel Angel Barzola Estevez (Argentina) – 2:19:26
- Alex Lawrence (Great Britain) – 2:19:38
- Mark Olsen (Denmark) – 2:19:44
- Matt Crehan (Great Britain) – 2:20:21
- T-Roy Brown (United States) – 2:21:17
- Rodah Chepkorir Tanui (Kenya) – 2:23:14
- Andreas Lommer (Denmark) – 2:23:50
- Lukas Eisele (Germany) – 2:24:10
- Jesper Faurschou (Denmark) – 2:24:16
- Ser Od Bat Ochir (Mongolia) – 2:24:46
- Christian Birch Okkels (Denmark) – 2:25:00
- Valentina Mateiko (Kenya) – 2:25:05
Women’s Top 25 Results
- Rodah Chepkorir Tanui (Kenya) – 2:23:14
- Valentina Mateiko (Kenya) – 2:25:05
- Philippa Bowden (Great Britain) – 2:29:16
- Adawork Aberta (Ethiopia) – 2:29:58
- Rediet Molla (Ethiopia) – 2:30:49
- Roberta Groner (United States) – 2:31:37
- Juliet Chekwel (Uganda) – 2:33:17
- Anya Culling (Great Britain) – 2:34:45
- Karen Ehrenreich (Denmark) – 2:35:02
- Amina Bettiche (Algeria) – 2:36:49
- Bria Wetsch (United States) – 2:37:10
- Sally O’gorman (Great Britain) – 2:41:58
- Natalia Mierzlikin (Poland) – 2:42:27
- Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill (Ireland) – 2:43:03
- Stine Schønning (Denmark) – 2:45:10
- Verena Vogt (Germany) – 2:45:44
- Kamilla Sofie Vallin (Denmark) – 2:46:47
- Melissa Hawtin (Great Britain) – 2:47:42
- Cynthia Holderer (United States) – 2:50:36
- Kate Purcell (Ireland) – 2:51:05
- Annika Green (Canada) – 2:52:37
- Marit Haslie (Norway) – 2:53:44
- Renate Galleberg (Norway) – 2:54:18
- Kathrine Højgaard (Denmark) – 2:54:33
- Rebecca Burns (Great Britain) – 2:55:18
Please click here for full results
