Chala Regasa and Nazret Weldu Triumph at Vienna City Marathon; Weldu Qualifies for Paris Olympics

Sunday, 21 April 2024

Chala Regasa and Nazret Weldu clinched victories in the 41st Vienna City Marathon, displaying commanding performances that set them apart from the competition by several minutes. Regasa, from Ethiopia, completed the marathon in 2:06:35, making it the third fastest time in the event's history. Despite windy conditions, he was the only runner to finish in under 2:10. The Kenyans Bernard Muia and Albert Kangogo took second and third places with times of 2:10:42 and 2:10:44, respectively.

Nazret Weldu made history by becoming the first Eritrean winner of the Vienna City Marathon. She completed the race in 2:24:08, qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris, the only athlete in this race to achieve this feat. Faith Chepkoech, a newcomer from Kenya, took second place with a time of 2:26:22, surprising everyone with her late surge. Rebecca Tanui, also from Kenya, finished third with a time of 2:26:53.

Overall, the marathon attracted 42,625 participants from 143 nations, with 10,024 runners competing in the full marathon, making it the third-largest in the event's history. During the initial stages of the men's race, there were signs of a possible course record due to the downhill gradient and wind support. However, as the race progressed, it became clear that Samwel Mailu's course record of 2:05:08 was out of reach due to strong headwinds. A group of five runners, including Chala Regasa, passed the halfway point at 63:03, with Daniel Paulus from Namibia among them, hoping to qualify for the Olympics with a time under 2:08:10. However, Regasa eventually broke away after the 30k mark, where the last pacemaker dropped out, and established a significant lead.

Meanwhile, the women's race saw an early breakaway by Nazret Weldu, Rebecca Tanui, and Kenya's Shyline Torotich. The trio's pace slowed after the first segment due to the windy conditions. Eventually, Torotich dropped off around the 23k mark, and Tanui followed suit after 30k, allowing Nazret Weldu to maintain her lead. Faith Chepkoech's second-place finish was remarkable, considering she ran 150 meters off-course at one point, yet managed to recover and finish in 2:26:22, improving her personal best by over 11 minutes.

Additionally, a 5k race was held during the marathon weekend, attracting over 3,300 runners. Austrian Marcel Tobler won the men's race with a course record of 14:22, while Lili Anna Vindics-Tóth from Hungary won the women's race in 15:57.

Despite the windy conditions, the Vienna City Marathon provided a thrilling and memorable experience for participants and spectators alike. Chala Regasa and Nazret Weldu's victories underscore their skill and resilience, with Weldu's triumph also earning her a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.