Kenya’s Pius Karanja on his way to win the 2020 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon, yesterday.
FROM MUSCAT / THE PENINSULA
Kenya’s Pius Karanja and Ethiopia’s Astede Habtamu claimed top honours at the 2020 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon, which saw a record number of participation at the beautiful setting of Al Mouj yesterday.
The annual competition – one of the major events on Oman’s sports calendar – has attracted more than 10,000 runners from 102 different countries. The majority of them were seen in action on the first of two-day running festival, which involves seven races.
In the feature events yesterday, Karanja was top among men’s marathon while Habtamu was fastest in the women’s race.
Both the marathons were dominated by the African athletes with Ethiopia’s Meseret Yibarek finishing second in men’s marathon while his compatriot Berhanu Gedefa took third position.
In the women’s marathon, Kenya’s Perez Jerubet was second behind champion Habtamu while her team-mate Bency Cheruiyot grabbed the third position.
Despite the early hour, a huge crowd gathered for the flag off for the marathon and half-marathon, with the runners spurred on by the cheers and drummers on either side of the start line.
The course took in the palm trees and wide boulevards of Al Mouj Muscat, before moving on to the vibrant golf course and the finish in the Race Village, where the runners crossed the line to tune of traditional Omani music.
Marathon legend Paula Radcliffe – the global ambassador for the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon said: “The Al Mouj Muscat Marathon has been wonderful yet again. This is my second visit and it is a special event.
“The camaraderie and the warmth within the race and all along the route and at the finish it was amazing. It’s a wonderful place to be on the finish line. I ran in with people finishing their first ever half marathon, first ever marathon and the first 10km as well.
“It’s a really great event, it brings the community together and it’s a wonderful event to be a part of,” she said.
There was a special moment when Paula presented the prize to the winner of the women’s 10km, Lisa Migliorini, recreating a moment where the British Olympian presented her with a medal when she was a child.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Mohammad Bagheritajamir received one of the biggest cheers of the day when he ascended the podium to collect his gold medal for the men’s 10km.
It was also a great local result in the men’s half marathon, with Oman’s Ali Al Badawi, Jehad Al Mahrami and Ibrahim Al Naabi winning the top three spots, while 22-year-old Hawi Alemu from Ethiopia had a debut to remember, clinching the women’s half marathon title.
The vibrant two-day running festival will conclude today when thousands of children take to the streets of Muscat for the 3km, 2km, and 1km events, while a sold-out 5km charity race will also be held in aid of the Oman Diabetes Association and Environmental Society of Oman.
Organised by Oman Sail, the Muscat Road Runners and Oman Athletic Association, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon 2020 welcomes the backing of Official Partners Carrefour, Sohar Port, and Freezone, Official Supporters Oman Airports, be’ah, Garmin, Oman Oasis, Kempinski Hotel Muscat, abq, Red Bull Mobile and Europcar, and Radio Partners Hala FM and Hi FM.
