Viktor Röthlin on his way to victory in Zürich (© Remy Steinegger / Swiss-Image.ch)
Swiss Viktor Röthlin stole the show at the fifth edition of the Zürich Marathon held in ideal weather conditions, by running an impressive 2:08:19 which improves his previous national record by 1:37.
Röthlin, who won the European Championships silver medal in Gothenburg last year behind Olympic champion Stefano Baldini from Italy, won the Zürich race second time in his career. Today was also his second sub-2:10 of his career after his previous PB of 2:09:56 from when he won the 2004 Zürich Marathon.
Röthlin, who prepared for this race in Kenya, was aided by African pacemakers in the attempt to achieve his goal to dip under 2:09. Pacers Stanley Salil, Gebremidhein Legessa, Abraham Tadoi and Daniel Kirui ran according plan passing the halfway mark in 64:09, with Tabdoi pacing Röthlin until 33 km.
Paul Lopio Lomol led for most of the race but was overhauled by Röthlin at 35km. At this point Röthlin dropped the kenyan running alone against the clock, with ideal conditions and a new and faster course making Röthlin’s run for a sub-10 clocking easier. His 2:08:19 ranks him second in the world this season.
The “pacemakers did a very good job. This result confirms my European silver medal in Gothenburg and opens me the door to the biggest marathons in the world. I am in the form of my life,” said Röthlin.
The Swiss specialist beat Kenyans Sammy Kurgat (2:11:35) and Lomol (2:13:16).
The women’s race went to Russia’s Nina Podnebesnova in 2.36:59 ahead of her compatriot Elena Tichonova (2:38:13) and kenyan Susan Jepkorir, third in 2:42:07.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Results from the Zürich Marathon:
Men:
1 Viktor Röthlin (Switzerland) 2:08:19
2 Sammy Kurgat (Kenya) 2:11:35
3 Paul Lopio Lomol (Kenya) 2:13:16
4 Lenar Chusnutdinow (Russia) 2:13:17
5 Debel Teklemedhin Senbeta (Ethiopia) 2:13:42
Women:
1 Nina Podnebesnova (Russia) 2:37:00
2 Elena Tikhonova (Russia) 2:38:13
3 Susan Jepkorir (Kenya) 2:42:07
