Running News Daily

Greeks Pitsolis and Noula win 41. Authentic Athens Marathon 2024

Charalambos Pitsolis finished first in the 41st Authentic Marathon, as he covered the 42,195 meters of the historic course in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 56 seconds.Panagiotis Karaiskos finished in second place (2:19:50) and Giorgos Benis third (2:21.40).

The first woman to finish was Stamatia Noula, who covered the distance in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 19 seconds, followed by Gloria Privilezio (2:41:58) and Panagiota Vlahaki (2:47:24).

The 41st Authentic Athens Marathon (AMA2024) kicked off on Sunday, at 09:00, with 21,000 runners expected to cover the historic route from the Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium.

This year marks 128 years since the first marathon held during the revival of the Olympic Games.

The 41st “Athens Marathon, the Authentic” is a race inspired by the journey of the hoplite soldier who carried the message of victory to Athens after the Battle of Marathon. In the spring of 1896, in the first modern Games, athletes from five countries lined up at the Marathon bridge, at the starting point, to cross the track to the Panathenaic Stadium. The thread was first cut by the Greek athlete Spyros Louis, in a victory that went down in history symbolizing effort, overcoming physical and mental limits, as well as endurance. The presence of the experienced, also Greek runner, Harilaos Vasilakos, who finished second and together with Louis became the first two winners in the History of the Road Marathon was also important.

In its current form, it has been held since 1983, dedicated to the great Greek doctor, Balkan athlete and pacifist Grigoris Lambrakis.

Edwin Kiptoo is targeting Athens Marathon course record

Kenya’s Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo will make his debut in Greece at the 40th edition of the Athens Classic Marathon slated for this Sunday (12) in Athens, Greece.

The 30 year-old comes to this race with a life time best of 2:06.52 that he got last year at the Haspa Marathon where he finished in seventh place. This year in March he participated at the Seoul Marathon, finishing in seventh place in a time of 2:08.56.

Kiptoo will not have an easy ride as he will have to get past his compatriot Rhonzas Lokitam Kilimo who comes to this race with the second fastest time on paper of 2:08.08 that he got this year in April at the Haspa Marathon where he crossed the finish line in fifth place.

The two Kenyans will face-off with the defending champion and the Greece National Record Holder, Charalambos Pitsolis who won last year’s edition in time of 2:23.44. The 30 year-old who comes to this race with a personal best of 2:21.23 that he got early this year in Germany.  Pitsolis will have an acid test from the Kenyans as the race organizers invited International elite athletes after three years of absence due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The organizers have assembled a strong deep elite field to try and chase the race course record of 2:10.37 that was set nine years ago by Felix Kipchirchir Kandie from Kenya.