12,814 runners tallied: A tremendous popular success for the 6th Alpes-Maritimes Marathon! Sports-wise: Victories for Abdisa Sori (Ethiopia) and Salina Jebet (Kenya). And now see you on Sunday, November 9, 2014, for the 7th edition of the Nice-Cannes Marathon.
Starting at 8 AM yesterday morning, participants in the Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes Marathon stormed the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice at the starting signal given by marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe, the patron of this 6th edition, at the invitation of the organization Peace and Sport, the charitable partner of the event.
While the organizers can be proud of a new participation record across the three race formats offered, unfortunately, no new records were set this year due to the wind that swept in yesterday morning from the Promenade des Anglais to the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes, much to the participants’ dismay.
Nonetheless, the spectacle was once again present for the 100,000 spectators gathered alongside the course, who came in large numbers to cheer and support the brave competitors.
The particularly challenging weather conditions took a toll on the participants, especially those at the head of the race, who preferred to slow down within the early kilometers, forfeiting any chance of a potential record on the Marathon.
Ultimately, it was in the final meters that the dice were cast, with the first two podium places decided by a neck-to-neck for Ethiopian Abdisa SORI ahead of his compatriots Edeo TELO, both finishing in 2:13:58, and Wosen ZELEKE in 2:14:13.
The first Frenchman, François HOLZERNY, finished in 2:30:51, placing 10th in the overall ranking. Wilson Kipketer, patron of Team Peace and Sport, completed his marathon in 3:15:08.
Among the women, Kenyan Salina JEBET finished on the top step of the podium in 2:41:34, ahead of Ethiopian Genet TEKA in 2:42:32 and Kenyan Gladys KWAMBAI in 2:44:12. The first French and regional runner, Céline BOUSREZ, finished in 2:53:43.
2×21: A new feature that appeals
The 2 x 21.1 km allowed two runners to each run a half-marathon to link Nice to Cannes. A novelty that attracted 881 pairs registered for this first edition.
The Marathon has become a team sport
The Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes Relay Marathon by Caisse d’Epargne has again, for the 5th consecutive year, offered runners of all levels the opportunity to participate in the event as part of a team of 6 runners.
On a course identical to that of the marathon, with distances ranging from 3 to 11 km, 400 teams took the start to share the effort and joy of running a marathon with family, friends, or colleagues.
The “Champions of Peace” team, composed of Wilson Kipketer, Vénuste Niyongabo, Marc Raquil, and Kaveh Mehrabi, finished in 15th place in 2:57:46.
Results
2×21.1 km
1st duo: 2:34:02
2nd duo: 2:40:41
3rd duo: 2:43:42
Relay Marathon
- Les Castors Savoyards: 2:24:22
- Intermarché Roquebrune 1: 2:25:42
- Ville de St Laurent Athlétisme: 2:26:09
Marathon
Men
- Abdisa SORI (ETH): 2:13:58
- Edeo TELO (ETH): 2:13:58
3.Wosen ZELEKE (ETH): 2:14:13
Women
- Salina JEBET (KEN): 2:41:34
- Genet TEKA (ETH): 2:42:32
- Gladys KWAMBAI (KEN): 2:44:12
