With the 31-year-old Kenyan Teclah Chebet there is a new women's record holder in the marathon after 2021. She shone in changeable weather with a new course record of 2:27:18. In total, the original top time from 2021 was beaten three times in the women's race. Despite its record times, Linz wants to remain a marathon for the masses and continue to impress with its high quality.
In the twenty-first year of its existence, the marathon stronghold of Linz is now putting another exclamation mark on the women's competition after a course record in the men's race last year. Despite cool and partly rainy running conditions, 31-year-old Kenyan Teclah Chebet shone with a new record time of 2:27:18 over the distance of 42.195 km. She beat her personal best by three minutes. The German Simon Boch won the men's race, also with a personal best, in 2:09:25. In total, exactly 11,060 participants from 74 nations made the 21st Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon a running festival for all sports enthusiasts, despite rain and temperatures around 10°.
For three years in a row, Linz has now seen new course records in the men's and women's marathon events. After the course record of the Kenyan Brenda Jerotich Kiprono in 2021 (2:30:27) and the phenomenal record of the Ethiopian Fikre Bekele (2:06:14) in the previous year, this year it was again the turn of the women in the marathon distance. The 31-year-old Kenyan Teclah Chebet beat her personal best by three minutes and set a new course record in the women's marathon event with 2:27:18. "I am overjoyed. That I achieved a personal best time in these changeable conditions makes me really happy," said Chebet. Domenika Mayer, a 32-year-old from Regensburg and mother of two, finished second in a time of 2:28:47, followed by Kenyan Rebecah Jeruto Cherop who ran her marathon debut in Linz in a time of 2:30:04. "This means that despite very changeable weather conditions we have beaten the previous course record in the women's race three times," said a visibly relieved race director Günther Weidlinger. The best Austrian in the marathon competition was Sabine Schnölzer from Tri Team Traunsee with 5th place in 2:59:15. The entry list for the 21st Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon was characterized by a dense and top-class elite field. The entire elite field included a total of 11 runners and eight pacemakers. The top line-up was made possible by a recent major commitment from main sponsor Oberbank Linz and, at the same time, the signing of international athlete manager Christoph Kopp. This year, the focus was on a new women's record.
New women's record
The women's best of 2:30:27, set in 2021 by Brenda Jerotich Kiprono (ETH), has fallen. Teclah Chebet (KEN) crossed the finish line in a time of 2:27:18 after an impressive run in cool and partly rainy conditions, fixing a new record time in the women's marathon competition. After being held twice in the fall season, the Linz Marathon has now moved back to its traditional place in the spring, where it will remain in the future. "A highlight of this year's marathon was definitely the women's elite race, which had enormous potential thanks to our main sponsor Oberbank," says race director Günther Weidlinger. For years, main sponsor Oberbank has made it possible to sign up quite a few elite runners who once again ensured top times in Linz.
Linz as an international running event
Fresh temperatures around 10° and changeable weather conditions with intermittent rain made for difficult conditions at the 21st Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon in the Upper Austrian capital. Provincial capital. Despite the bad weather, 11,060 running enthusiasts from 74 nations did not let themselves be distracted from their joy of running and went to the start. Compared to the previous year, there were 10 percent more participants in the running events. The majority of participants came from Upper Austria and the Austrian provinces. Guests from abroad were provided by the Federal Republic of Germany with almost 300 athletes. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Italy followed in the participation ranking. Supported by "Lauffeuer LIMA", the Linz Marathon mascot, and numerous spectators, the starting shots for a total of six events were fired on the Voest freeway bridge in Linz between 8:00 and 9:30 am.
Ladies set new record times
"I'm delighted that we were able to set a new course record for the ladies in Linz after 2021 and beat the previous record three times. And that's right after two years of record times in the women's and men's events. All good things come in threes. That really rounds off the victory," says an overjoyed race director Günther Weidlinger.
Men's field dominated by Regensburg runners
The 2023 Marathon winner is Simon Boch from Germany. The runner from Regensburg, who celebrates his 29th birthday on April 18, gave himself a birthday present with a winning and at the same time personal best time of 2:09:25. Second place went to the Kenyan Evans Kimtia Kiprono, who ran a strong race as a pacemaker, in a time of 2:09:56, followed by third Rutto Kembio Jackson (KEN) with 2:12:02. Best Austrian was Matthias Madelt with 7th place from LC ASKÖ Breitenau in 2:31:04.
Top performances in the half marathon
The winner of the half marathon is Timo Hinterndorfer from DSG Vienna. The only 18-year-old won in his half marathon debut in an impressive time of 1:04:06. "So far I have only run shorter distances of 5 and 10 kilometers. The half marathon obviously suits me, it was really cool to run here," Hinterndorfer said. The second and third placed Austrians Alexander Bründl (1:08:15) and Isaac Toroitich Kosgei (1:11:08) could not match Hinterndorfer's time.
Australian won the women's half marathon
In the women's half marathon, Vanessa Wilson from Australia was the winner with 1:17:53. Followed by Katarina Lovrantova (1:21:32) from Slovakia and Tina Fischl (1:21:55) from Germany, the women also performed well in the half marathon. Best Austrian was Michaela Pilat with rank 4 in a time of 1:23:15.
Quarter marathon
Martin Enzenberger is the winner of the quarter marathon. The athlete from TGW Zweikampf Union ran to the top in a time of 33:44. Followed by the Ukrainian Vitalii Kapitanets (34:07) and the Austrian Christoph Schmalzer from Linz AG Sport (35:19) Enzenberger was more than satisfied: "A super fast running course and a great audience that despite this weather cheers the runners so great".
Austria's ladies impressed with 1st and 2nd place also over 10 kilometers
The Linz Marathon 2023 was clearly a marathon of women's victories. In addition to the half marathon, there were also feasts for Austrian women in the quarter marathon. Bernadette Schuster of SK Vöest won in an impressive time of 38:00 ahead of Kerstin Springer, Union Rohrbach-Berg (38:42). Third was the German Lena Lechl from CLR Sauwald with 41:35.
Christoph Stadlbauer dominates in the handbikers' race
In the half marathon of the handbikers Christoph Stadlbauer from RSC heindl OÖ won in the time of 35:56, second place went to Helmut Jost, SC Hermagor with 36:42 followed by Gerhard Hochmayr, RSC heindl OÖ (39:02). Walter Ablinger acted this year as pacemaker in a self-attempt of the OÖ. Sports journalist Christoph Zöpfl, who finished 4th with 49:49. He was closely followed by his pacemaker Walter Ablinger in 5th place (49:50). The performance in the women's race was also exceptional. Here the victory went to Conny Wibmer, RSC Heindl in 41:26. "For us people with disabilities, this inclusive sports event in the Upper Austrian capital is a great opportunity to be part of a society that enjoys exercise," says Walter Ablinger, who this year concentrated on his role as pacemaker.
Self-test in the handbike competition
The Upper Austrian. Sports journalist Christoph Zöpfl thought of the topic of inclusion in a different way and dared to try it himself by participating in the handbike half marathon in Linz with the winning bike from 2004 of his coach Christoph Etzlsdorfer. Since the fall of last year, Zöpfl has covered hundreds of kilometers on the ergometer and on the road in order to compete with the elite. His summary: "I take my hat off to all the people with disabilities who are taking part here. Zöpfl had a prominent pacemaker by his side in the form of Walter Ablinger, who coached him to the finish line and brought him up to fourth place in the competition.
Other notable individual performances
Born in 2013, the youngest participant was Lukas Kaindlbinder (half marathon). Born in 2005 and therefore the youngest starter in the marathon competition were Lucia Bindreiter and Volodymyr Voronstov. Oldest starter in the marathon were Karin Schröder-Raunick (born 1951) and Johann Haugeneder (born 1952). Impressive was the participation of Ewald Eder, Alois Grillneder, Heinz Jagemann and Wolfgang Tronegger. They started as Super Golden Runners and have already run all 20 previous Linz Marathons over the full distance. The sponsors were also at the start: title sponsor Oberbank was represented by its general manager Dr. Franz Gasselsberger with bib number 2000, who started in the half marathon. This year, Gasselsberger beat his personal best by around three seconds and finished in a time of 1:45:07. The half marathon sponsor Borealis was represented by Dr. Jürgen Mader, Managing Director of Borealis Agrolinz Melamine, and by Deputy Mayor Karin Hörzing in the relay marathon.
Apart from the many best performances in the competitions, the 21st Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon was once again inspiring as a great sports festival, providing the opportunity to connect hobby running enthusiasts with top world-class athletes. This provided unique moments and emotions for all participants. "As a relay runner, I was able to see this for myself. All in all, the Linz Marathon has become a celebration for the entire city and it's hard to imagine Linz without it. My thanks go to all the helpers who looked after the safety, physical and sporting well-being of the runners," says Linz Deputy Mayor Karin Hörzing.
The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon had once again thrilled people this year. Not only the runners gave top performances, but also the spectators along the course. "The atmosphere was simply great despite the changeable weather," said Wolfgang Scheibner, Head of Human Resources & Organization LIVA. The right mix is what makes Linz so successful and brings the crowds to the city. The fact that we've been able to deliver record times three years in a row is simply sensational. None of us expected that! Linz is uncomplicated and service-oriented, and that's what makes Linz so popular with athletes."
The mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger, who was able to experience the unique atmosphere on the running course at first hand: "I'm particularly pleased that in a sports world that tends to be dominated by men, a women's focus was placed on the marathon competition this year. With a sensational elite field in the women's category and enthusiastic participants, we have once again succeeded in creating a fantastic marathon. It is simply great to be able to show a new course record three years in a row. It's a shame that the weather didn't quite cooperate this time, but the participants didn't let themselves be discouraged because of that. That is really impressive.
Race director Günther Weidlinger: "Despite the changing weather conditions I am very happy today. With such a top elite field in the women's race and a new best time, all the wishes of a race director have come true. A big thank you to the entire team!"
22nd Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon on April 07, 2024.
Satisfied, relaxed faces after the race also at the organizing team: LIVA procurator Wolfgang Scheibner says: "The work of our small team today has once again brought the high professionalism to the fore. A new women's course record is of course sensational. But the winning time alone was not decisive. What was important was that we were able to offer all running enthusiasts a super experience despite the unstable weather. We want to remain an event for the masses and impress with high quality. I am confident that the work with our young, powerful group can be continued successfully in the coming years."
The date for the 22nd Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is already fixed at Sunday, 07 April 2024.
