Kasanesh Ayenew Leads an Ethiopian Sweep at the Istanbul Marathon, and Kemal Husen and Kuftu Tahir Win in Hangzhou

Kasanesh Ayenew Baze won the Istanbul Marathon on Sunday, November 1, in 2 hours 24 minutes 40 seconds, and Ethiopian women took the first five places. On the same day in China, Kemal Husen and Kuftu Tahir Dadiso won the men’s and women’s races at the Hangzhou Marathon.

Five Ethiopian Women at the Top in Istanbul

Azmera Abreha Gdey finished second in Istanbul, seven seconds behind the winner. Diribe Hirko Alemu was third in 2:25:00, Anadolu Agency reported. The first three women crossed the line within 20 seconds of each other.

Alemtsehay Asefa Kasegn and Meaza Asefa Kasegn finished fourth and fifth, according to the results list. Judith Jeptum Korir of Kenya was the first non Ethiopian woman, in sixth place. Bizuager Aderra of Ethiopia, the defending champion, was tenth in 2:34:42, Running Valencia, a running news site, reported.

The site also reported that Kasanesh pulled away on the last climb to the finish in Sultanahmet Square. She told Daily Sabah that it was only her fifth marathon. “I am very happy to have won; I feel very good,” she said. “God willing, my goal is to represent my country at the Olympics …”

Sufaro Woliyi Second in a Record Men’s Race

Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the men’s race in 2:08:44, a new course record. He took one minute off the time that his countryman Daniel Kibet set in 2019. Sufaro Woliyi Kebeto of Ethiopia was second in 2:08:52, and Vincent Kipyegon Ronoh of Kenya was third.

Three more Ethiopian men finished in the top seven. Gemechu Yadesa Irena was fourth in 2:08:57, Amdework Walelegn Tadese was fifth and Mengistu Bekele Tedecha was seventh, according to results published by GNB Sports.

The Istanbul race starts on the Asian side of the city, near the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. Runners cross the Bosphorus and finish in Europe. Spor Istanbul, a company of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, organizes the race, which held its 48th edition on Sunday.

Times in this story come from the official results as reported by Anadolu Agency and GNB Sports for Istanbul and by My Best Runs for Hangzhou. Outlets differ by a few seconds.

An Ethiopian Double in Hangzhou

In Hangzhou, Kemal Husen Gebi won the men’s race in 2:11:16, according to results from My Best Runs, a race results site. Mustapha Houdadi of Morocco was second in 2:12:03, and Nicholas Kirwa of Kenya was third in 2:12:49. Mekuant Ayenew of Ethiopia finished fourth.

Kuftu Tahir Dadiso won the women’s race in 2:26:03. Her countrywoman Fozia Jemal was second, about three minutes later, in 2:29:05. Mercy Kwambai of Kenya was third in 2:30:23. My Best Runs reported that rising heat and humidity made the last part of the race hard for the leaders.

Zhejiang Online, a news site in the host province, reported that the Hangzhou race held the World Athletics Gold Label this year. Chinese runners won the half marathon races held on the same day.

A Busy Month for Ethiopian Marathoners

The two wins came on the same Sunday as the New York City Marathon, where Deresa Geleta ran with the leaders for 23 miles before he slowed. In October, Ethiopian runners won both the men’s and women’s races in Frankfurt and in Dublin.