In their first-ever races at the 2024 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon, which drew over 54,000 runners, Ethiopians Mestawut Fikir and Mulugeta Uma prevailed on Sunday.
Fikir ran a faster sprint finish time of 2:20:45, just one minute off the race record, to defeat her Ethiopian teammate Enat Tirusew, who clocked in at 2:20:48. Finishing in third place with a time of 2:21:47 was Kenyan Vivian Cheruyot, a former world and Olympic 5000m champion.
Fikir, a 24-year-old ASICS athlete, has been concentrating on half marathons over the last two years. She set a personal best of 66:44 in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Larne last year, where she took first place, according to Athletics Weekly.
Uma, a 26-year-old seasoned marathon runner, also participated in the Paris marathon for the first time and won a gold medal in what became his fourth marathon.
Despite having to hold off Titus Kipruto, who finished in second place with a time of 2:05:48, the Ethiopian managed to set a personal best by 30 seconds as he clocked 2:05:33, according to the publication.
Elisha Rotich of Kenya, who holds the record for the Paris Marathon, came in third place with a time of 2:06:54, finishing slightly over a minute behind Uma.
Uma was well clear to cross the finish line during his run, but he nearly collided with an official entering the last turn, according to the Associated Press. Uma nearly lost his footing when the official waved him to the right as he headed straight.
Nonetheless, he swiftly regained his composure and pointed to the crowd while celebrating.
Following Abrha Milaw and Gelete Burka’s victory in the men’s and women’s races in 2019, Fikir and Uma’s triumphs marked the second time Ethiopia had won both titles in Paris.
