15th Zurich Marathon/Switzerland 2017 – Tonui and Nunes achieve personal best results with perfect conditions to win top place

Radiant sunshine and warm temperatures provided excellent running conditions at the 15th Zurich Marathon.

According to organisers 9,452 participants registered, 8,708 started and 8,569 finished. This year's race saw runners starting from 87 different countries.

Amongst the elite male runners was Vincent Tonui from Kenya while Vera Nunes from Portugal was the star under the female elites.

 

At the 15th Zurich Marathon, Zurich presented itself in the best possible light. Image: Alphafoto.com 

With 9,452 registered runners, the organisers reported only a slight decline in registered runners in comparison to last year's record-breaking enrollment for the 15th Zurich Marathon. This year participants came from no fewer than 87 countries.

Also, all Swiss cantons were represented, as were all generations ranging from 11-year-olds to 81-year-olds. Men dominated the individual runners' category, making up approximately a third of racers or 3,351 runners. 1,559 women also started on the 42.195 km race along Lake Zurich. In addition, there were more than 1,100 teams with four runners each.

Early Sunday morning, a total of 8,708 runners took part in the various designated distances ranging from Marathon (42.195 km) to Teamrun and over to a 9.85 km Cityrun. Those who started showed perseverance with a total of 8,569 runners finishing and achieving an official time. This year only 139 runners had to drop out of the race, which is less than 2 percent of those starting.

Vincent Tonui wins his Marathon Debut

In addition to the numerous attractions along the route, the audience of the 15th Zurich Marathon also enjoyed a dramatic athletic spectacle. Vincent Tonui of Kenya clearly won the race today. In his first competitive marathon, he debuted with an impressive time of 2:12.57,5.

Six kilometres before the finish line lead, Tonui was the clear winner with the next runner coming in just under 4 minutes later. With both Patrick Ereng and Samuel Karani winning a spot on the podium, Kenyan runners dominated the race.

Among the women, the Vera Nunes of Portugal won with a time of 2:34.17,5 and thereby improved her personal best performance by more than three minutes.

A member of SL Benfica, Nunes started the race rather defensively and was thus able to divide the race ideally. The Swiss favourite, Michèle Gantner, had to, unfortunately, quit the race at kilometre 37 due to stomach issues.

No major incidents

Despite the rather warm conditions, the medical service only needed to deal with 26 minor injuries. Five runners were hospitalised for further control – four of them for dehydration and one after a fall. All of the injured are expected to make a full recovery without any long-term side effects.

Upon the completion of the 15th annual Zurich Marathon, the organising committee president, Bruno Lafranchi, made the following positive statement: "The time achievements of the elite runners remained somewhat below our expectations. But the races went on without any major incidents. It was a great occasion during which the city of Zurich could once again show its best."

The 16th Zurich Marathon will take place on April 22, 2018.

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Strobel PR