BELGRADE MARATHON 2017 – Saturday morning’s Belgrade Marathon celebrated its 30th anniversary – By Pat Butcher

Belgrade, Saturday, April 22, 1500gmt – In the first event of a big marathon weekend in Europe – with London, Vienna and Hamburg tomorrow – Saturday morning’s Belgrade Marathon celebrated its 30th anniversary with a third victory by local hero Olivera Jevtić.

The five-time Olympian, now in her 40th year won in 2.38.03.The men’s race was won by Stephen Kipngetich Katam of Kenya, in 2.21.12.

On a cool, sunny morning with the temperature at 8C, Jevtić whose career highlights include a European silver in 2006 and a third place in Boston 2004 took over the lead at halfway from colleague, Teodora Simović, and eventually won by close to four minutes.

Nevertheless, marathon debutante, Simović finished second in a creditable 2.41.47, with another Serb, Nataša Culafić third in 3.02.41.

Kipngetich, whose debut win came in Tel Aviv 2016, went into the lead after six kilometres, and eventually won by nine minutes, from Darko Zivanović of Serbia, 2.30.15, with Kennedy Kipruto Mayo of Kenya in third, in 2.33.40.

Jevtić said, “Though this is my third win in Belgrade, this was the best. I expected to run a bit faster, maybe we started too quickly and into a tough headwind. I’m pleased with that”.

“I enjoyed the race, and I liked the course,” said men’s winner Kipngetich. The support along the course was great, and I’d like to come back again”.

With the other ‘Legends’ ie former race promoters – Mike Powell, Javier Sotomajor, Lasse Viren, Rosa Mota, Galina Chistyakova, Kevin Young and Stefano Baldini present, Bob Beamon said how much they been impressed by the enthusiasm of the youngsters to whom they gave coaching seminars, and to the crowds which lined the tough Belgrade course.

RESULTS

MEN
1          Stephen KIPNGETICH KATAM    KEN   2.21.12
2          Darko ZIVANOVIC                         SRB    2.3015
3          Kennedy KIPRUTO MAYO                KEN    2.33.40

WOMEN
1          Olivera JEVTIC                            SRB    2.38.03
2          Teodora SIMOVIC                          SRB    2.41.47
3          Nataša CULAFIC                            SRB    3.02.41
 
Pat Butcher
www.globerunner.org

30. BELGRADE MARATHON 2017 ON SATURDAY – LEGENDS RETURN – By Pat Butcher

www.globerunner.org

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