The Kenyan Bernard Muia Katui has won the 37th Munich Marathon. Sebastian Hendel crossed the finish line in fifth place. Compatriot Catherine Cherotich won the women’s event. However, a misdirection on the route caused confusion.
Curious scenes accompanied the Munich Marathon on Sunday. The top group of men ran about 100 meters too much, the women’s team made a turn too early and had to do two extra laps in the Olympic Stadium. Race director Gernot Weigl promised that the race should be analyzed by Monday. “I can’t blame anyone.”
Kenyan quartet in front of Hendel
The Kenyan Bernard Muia won the Munich Marathon in 2:09:21 hours. Second place went to Benson Nzioki (+0.04 minutes), third place went to Mika Cheserek (0.09). Sebastian Hendel crossed the finish line in the Olympic Stadium in fifth place, just under a minute behind. With 2:10.14 hours he was able to improve his personal best despite the longer distance. However, to qualify for the Olympics he would have had to run a time of 2:08:10 hours.
Leading group going strong
Hendel, who came fourth last year, was still on course for a podium finish at halftime in the leading group of the Kenyans Bernard Muia, David and Mica Cheserek, Amos Kiptoo Birgen, Kibet Cheruiyot, and Benson Nzioki. At kilometer 21.1 the clock showed 1:04:30 hours.
But then Hendel had to let it be easily demolished. At kilometer 30 he was 0.10 minutes behind the leader. When sprinting across Munich’s Marienplatz, the 27-year-old appeared slightly injured. The move to the front seemed to have left as Kenyans Bernard Mula and Nzioki picked up the pace. Mica Cheserek and Cosmas Kiplimo finished third and fourth. Hendel had to bite in fifth place to stay there.
Hendel missed his target best time
In the final meters, Bernard Muia Katui was able to outpace 20-year-old Benson Nzioki (+0.04 min). On his marathon debut, he ran a brilliant race behind the winner. Mica Cheserek (+0.09) came third, Cosmas Kiplimo (+0.50) just missed the podium like Sebastian Hendel (+0.57).
The 27-year-old from LG Braunschweig remained below his previous best time. However, he missed his goal of running the route in under 2:10 hours. “You are measured by high goals,” he said, a little disappointed. However, they had a route misdirection, said Hendel. “We ran 100 meters too much.” The pacemakers tried to gain the seconds, but in the end that probably took their revenge.
Strange race for women
The women also made a serious mistake early on. Not only the leading Kenyans Catherine Cherotich and compatriot Tecla Chebet had turned around too early on Ludwigsstrasse shortly before Odeonsplatz. The consequences: A fair solution had to be found so that the best times of the top athletes could also be counted for the marathon course. “The leading group will run two more laps in the stadium to get to the 42.195 kilometers. Why they turned off so early is still being analyzed,” explained race director Weigl.
At kilometer 21.1 Cherotich and Chebet were clearly in the lead. They now had information about the mishap and that they had to run the missing route in the Olympic Stadium. After 30 kilometers, Cherotich was still just ahead of Chebet (+0.10 minutes), but continued to expand his lead.
After two special laps in the Olympic Stadium, Catherine Cherotich was able to celebrate exhausted after 2:31:34 hours. “Of course I was tired, but the cheering from the spectators in the stadium pushed me forward on the additional two laps,” the 28-year-old was quoted as saying after the race. Teclah Chebet (2:32:13) crossed the finish line in second place, followed by Flomena Chepkiach Ngurasia (2:33:17) was third.
Start and finish in the Olympic Stadium
The start and finish of the 37th edition of the Munich Marathon were in the Olympic Stadium. On the 42.195 kilometers through the Bavarian capital, the runners passed numerous sights and historical places. 5,210 runners were registered for the classic distance.
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Source: Blickpunkt Sport October 8th, 2023 – 8:55 a.m
