Nearly 8000 registered participants took off in the four races offered this Sunday in Nice along the Promenade des Anglais. 1 event, 4 races, 1 popular success under the azure sun!
After a fierce struggle, it was finally the Ethiopian SEFIR Dino who crossed the finish line in 1h00’30”. Pleasant temperatures, a blue azure sky, and nonexistent wind created ideal race conditions.
2 km Little Champions to start the event
8:30 AM, the runners of the 2 km Little Champions take off under a radiant sun on the same course as that of the champions. Since its creation in 2001, this event has seen a meteoric success. This year, 267 registered participants came to push their limits. It was Clรฉment ORTEGA who stepped onto the top of the podium in 7’13”.
The Niรงoise, a race with a big heart
15 minutes later, it was the turn of the participants of the popular event la Niรงoise / nice-matin in support of the fight against breast cancer with the support of the League Against Cancer to start.
For its fourth year, the event won another success with 1438 participants in total across the two categories. It was Nathalie DA PONTE who claimed victory in the 5km distance in 17’21”.
9:30 AM, time for the champions with the simultaneous start of the 10 and 21.1 km events.
As usual, the leading group led by the formidable Kenyans and Ethiopians set the pace for the rest of the runners. The leading pack consisted of 12 units, including Ethiopians SEFIR Dino and WASIHUM Mule, setting a brisk pace from the start. Very quickly, the hope of breaking the record faded, but the race didn’t become any less exciting. In fact, the race was a matter of elimination; the pack of 12 thinned out at the 12th km and then at the 15th km, leaving just a group of 5 runners at the front. Finally, in the last stretch, the Kenyan BIWOTT Yusuf made a dramatic comeback to take 2nd place in 1h00’33” behind SEFIR Dino who won the 22nd edition of the Nice-Cannes half-marathon in 1h00’30”. The Ethiopian WASIHUM Mule took the third spot on the podium in 1h00’35”.
Among the women, the Turkish ABEYLEGESSE Elvan, Olympic Vice Champion of the 5,000 m and 10,000 m in 2008, established a lead in the early kilometers and finished in 1h10’29” ahead of the Kenyan Gladys CHEMWENO, who finished in 1h11’32”, and her compatriot Mary WACHERA in 1h13’18”.
In the 10 km event, it was DE WILDE Antoine who claimed victory in 30’40”. Among the women, it was the French FARHOUN Hanan who finished in 37’25”.
A popular success
The various events, sprinkled with musical and friendly entertainments, concluded in jubilation as the finish line was crossed under the cheers of a large audience. The organizers invite all competitors to join next year to celebrate the 23rd edition!
