Switzerland’s Röthlin takes Marathon bronze on Day One in Osaka

European Marathon silver medallist, Viktor Röthlin, has added a World bronze medal to his ever growing list of achievements, finishing 1min 26secs behind the leader, with a time of 2:17.25.

The Swiss distance runner has been on great form this season, ranked second fastest in Europe because of his best time of 2:08:20 in Zurich in April, but the Osaka Marathon required endurance rather than speed, as athletes struggled to cope with the extreme heat and humidity.

The Osaka heat has been no deterrent for the World’s finest multi-eventers, however. After the first two Heptathlon events, Swedish superstar Carolina Kluft is leading the field, setting a personal best of 13.15 in the 100m Hurdles and 1.95m in the High Jump. 24-year-old Kluft is aiming for a third World Championship gold to add to her European and Olympic titles.

Britain’s Heptathlon favourite, Jessica Ennis, also set a personal best time winning the 100m Hurdles in just 12.97 and placing her just 52 points behind Kluft, and the British celebrations continued when reigning European 4×100 relay Champion Marlon Devonish, continued his top training form to be the fastest qualifier for the 100m quarter-finals with a time of 10.13.

However there was European disappointment, as Portugal’s Olympic silver medallist and European Champion, Francis Obikwelu, had a shock disqualification from the 100m after a false start. The double European Champion was hotly tipped as a medal favourite for this event, so the field could now be open for a surprise medal contender such as Devonish.

Source/Courtesy
European Athletics (EAA)
https://www.european-athletics.org/
EAA