Elisha Rotich of Kenya won the men’s race, while Tigist Memuye of Ethiopia topped the women’s podium in Sunday’s Paris Marathon.
Rotich established a new track record with a time of two hours four minutes and twenty-one seconds, finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Hailemaryam Kiros.
As he stepped up his speed beyond the 25-kilometer mark, the 31-year-old Kenyan shaved almost a minute off his personal best and smashed Kenenisa Bekele’s seven-year race record of 2:05:04.
Hillary Kipsambu of Kenya finished third despite dropping two places in the closing stages of the race.
Memuye won the women’s race in two hours 26 minutes and 12 seconds after a late push.
Memuye finished about three seconds ahead of Yenenesh Dinkesa, with Fantu Jimma rounding out the podium for Ethiopians.
The Paris Marathon, which will attract 60,000 runners from 145 nations, was originally planned for April but was postponed for six months owing to the COVID-19 epidemic.
In 2020, the race was cancelled due to the epidemic.
