Rookie runner shows second place

Nazret Weldu from Eritrea ensured the expected favorite victory in the women's race. The 34-year-old was the first woman to win for her country at the Vienna City Marathon. With a time of 2:24:08, she easily secured her ticket to the Olympic Games in Paris in the summer. From an Austrian perspective, Julia Mayer achieved a top 10 placement while battling gusts of wind and hormones.

From the start, she left no doubt about her role in the race and her goal. Nazret Weldu set the pace in the women's race for long stretches. By the half marathon mark the lead had already shrunk to a trio. At this point, only Rebecca Tanui and Shyline Torotich (both KEN) could keep up with Weldu. Even though the passing time of 1:11:49 halfway through the race was a sign that Weldu wasn't aiming for a new course record that day.

Before kilometer 25, the trio at the front was reduced to a duo; Torotich could no longer follow the consistently high pace of the two leaders. The preliminary decision about victory came shortly before the turnaround at the Lusthaus im Prater, when Weldu was able to open a small gap to Tanui, which she continuously increased. The 34-year-old kept her pace until the finish and clearly distanced herself from her pursuers over the remaining eight kilometers. It was also clear early on that the Olympic ticket she was aiming for (2:26:50) would be easy for her to get. Weldu was the first VCM winner from Eritrea to reach the finish line at the Burgtheater in a time of 2:24:08, followed at a respectful distance by Faith Chepkoech (KEN, 2:26:22) and Tanui (2:26:53) on the podium .

“Rookie” goes astray shows up second

The performance of the time-placed Chepkoech is remarkable. The 26-year-old talent competed in her second marathon race for the OPEC Fund Rookie Team and caused a stir. What is curious is that the Kenyan came off the route immediately after the Happel Stadium and had to take a small detour. But Chepkoech fought back again, overtook runner after runner in the last kilometers and ultimately shone in second place.

Weldu collects 15,000 euros for her VCM victory. After the race she was very satisfied with her own performance and spoke of a “great day. The plan was primarily the Olympics and not victory. My run was really good, the flat course benefited me. Sometimes there was stronger wind, that was difficult, but it was ok for me.” She now wants to be firmly involved in the fight for the medals at the Olympic Games in August.

“Solid race” for Mayer

From a home perspective, Julia Mayer presented herself in strong form. At the beginning, the 31-year-old Viennese always stayed in the background of her group, ran rather passively and ran a “solid race,” as she later stated. Not quite physically fit because, like at the World Championships in Budapest 2023, she had her period at the worst possible time, she had to struggle with the wind and also with cramps in her lower abdomen in the last few kilometers. As a reward, the DSG Vienna athlete received an excellent 10th place overall with a time of 2:31:25 and the title of second-best European woman.

Nazret Weldu runs to the Olympics with first VCM women's victory for Eritrea

GEPA/Edgar EisnerNazret Weldu crossed the finish line first in the women's race after 42.195 km

41. VCM - Women's race results:
1. Nazret Weldu (ERI) - 2:24:08
2. Faith Chepkoech (KEN) - 2:26:22
3. Rebecca Tanui (KEN) - 2:26:53
4. Jovana De La Cruz Capani (PER) - 2:27:54
5. Lilia Fisikovici (MDA) - 2:30:06
6. Shyline Torotich (KEN) - 2:30:36
7. Leydy Romero (COL) - 2:30: 37
8. Helalia Johannes (NAM) - 2:30:53
9. Mokulebete Makatisi (LES) - 2:30:54
10. Julia Mayer (AUT, DSG Vienna) - 2:31:25