Ethiopian long-distance runners Tadese Starge Demeke and Taye Birhan Nigatu upheld their country’s tradition in long-distance events and dominated the distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters in the IV Varadero Marathon, which was run before dawn this Sunday in the Matanzas spa with the participation of more than 1,500 competitors in all modalities.
Demeke and Nigatu, wearing orange jerseys, camouflaged themselves in the middle of the pack at the time of the start, but they immediately set their pace and met the logical expectations that the presence of African runners always arouses in long-distance events.
According to a report From the digital site Jit, the Ethiopians used the half marathon contestants as a kind of “hare” to open the fence with the rest of their rivals, who could never keep up with them.
In the end, the duel ended with a narrow victory for Demeke, who stopped the timers at 2:19:59, slightly ahead of his compatriot, who marked 2:20:08. Third place went to Cuban Jorge Luis Bárzaga (2.44:00), more than 20 minutes behind the Africans.
The #Marathon of #Varadero 2023 reiterated an open secret: sport is more than physical effort, it is part of spiritual enjoyment and strengthens the soul like few other things. #Cuba pic.twitter.com/UtgnqrhBS6
— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) April 2, 2023
Both riders assured the press that they are not used to such humid weather, which limited their chances of achieving better times. However, they stuck to their strategy of consuming miles together and taking advantage of the pace of the contestants in the half marathon to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Of the 38 athletes who launched in the first marathon of the event, the Italian Daniela De Stefano was the first woman to cross the finish line, with a time of 3:55.00 hours. According to Jit, the European has run the 42 kilometers and 195 meters more than 50 times.
In the rest of the tests, Francisco Ronnei Estévez from Mayabe (1:08.33 hours) and Arletis Thaureaux (1:20.32), from the national team, dominated the half marathon, while Alejandro Rodríguez, member of the national triathlon team, and Salamah Mahioos took the win in the 10 km.
I am very happy with another victory in Varadero and with the time achieved, express Estevez to the Cuban News Agency. The long-distance runner, who trains with his dog, reduced his 2022 time by two minutes, an excellent preamble for the training base that he will complete in Kenya in preparation for the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, next June.
Thaureaux, for his part, told Jit that he did not achieve his best time, but it is the race in which he has felt happiest. “I loved running at this time, without the inconvenience of the sun. The circuit is very good”, specified the former specialist in 800 and 1500 meters, about the decision to set the start of the most demanding distances for 5 in the morning.
The Guantanamo ousted Yumisleidis Mestre, defending monarch, who started as a favorite. However, she could not keep up and ended up in third position, exhausted and unable to stand up, for which she required medical attention.
The Varadero Marathon once again had the presence of stars of Cuban athletics such as Javier Sotomayor, Dayron Robles, Ana Fidelia Quirós and María Caridad Colón, who were the center of attention at the finish line along with the runners and the fans.
After completing the fourth edition of the event, the organizers were satisfied and assured that they will maintain the same program next year, with the marathon included.
