Running News Daily

Marathon Nice-Cannes gets a new women’s event record

Fikadu runs 2:28:15 to beat previous best by over two minutes

On Sunday morning, at 8:00 am, it was under a clear blue sky that the 10,528 competitors of the 14th edition of the French Riviera Marathon Nice-Cannes set off.

They left from the Promenade des Anglais, 500 meters from the Hyatt Regency Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice, to reach Cannes and its famous Croisette, in front of one of its famous five-star hotels: the Martinez by Hyatt hotel!

“What a pleasure to have run alongside more than 10,500 athletes during this 14th edition of the Nice-Cannes Marathon! A unique race with an exceptional route, a great sporting and human gathering that conveys a taste for effort, a sense of sharing and solidarity, health through sport, and the international promotion of our region. Not forgetting ecology and environmental protection, through actions to reduce its environmental impact, in line with the Green Deal policy. I am proud that the Department has been the title partner of this event for years. I would like to thank the many volunteers who worked before and during the race throughout the 42.195km, Pascal Thiriot, President of Azur Sport Organization, the towns along the route, and all those who contributed, alongside the Department, to the success of this international sporting event. I congratulate all the runners for their participation!” said Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the French Riviera Department.

Long months of physical and mental preparation were needed to give it all today and to be in the best shape, as the long-awaited sounding of the saving shot was given by Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the French Riviera Department and José Cobos, City Councillor of Nice, Delegate for Sports Events and Hosting of International Sports Competitions.Charles Ange Ginésy took part in the relay race with his elected colleagues wearing the colors of the French Riviera Department.

As usual, the leading group led by the Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes started with a bang.

The three Kenyans John Langat, Vincent Rono and Japheth Kosgei took the lead until 30km with a pace of 2:08:30. It is only at 32km that the race becomes more tactical. Vincent Rono speeds up on the exit of Juan-les-Pins in front of Kosgei and Langat, who seems to be in more difficulty. Finally, at the 37 km, Kosgei broke down and takes the marathon wall. Rono and Langat continue the race neck-and-neck, neither of them wanting to give way to the other. It was two kilometers before the finish line that Langat took the lead to win in 2:10:25. Rono took the second step of the podium in 2:10:40 followed by Kosgei in 2:13:39. The first Frenchman and Maralpin, Lucas Gehin finished in 6th place overall in 2:30:06.

In the women’s race, the two favorites Ethiopian Zenebu Fikadu and Kenyan Sharon Jemutai ran together until 16 km before Fikadu widened the gap and took first place, setting a new record for the event in 2:28:15, beating the previous record of Radiya Roba (ETH), 2:30:37 in 2010, by over two minutes.

Fikadu was followed by Kenyan Sharon Jemutai in 2:34:12. There was a good fight for third place between the Swede Hanna Lindholm and the Frenchwoman Aline Camboulives. It is finally the Swedish woman who will take the third place in 2:39:57. Aline Camboulives finished in 5th place overall in 2:51:10.