The young elite athlete from Kenya scraped past the Linz course record from 2007 with 2:10:23 in challenging weather conditions.
Even 11 years after his victory, Alexander Kuzin remains the unbeaten Linz champion: Robert Kipkemboi from Kenya wins the 17th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon, but is unable to break the Linz course record set by the Ukrainian in 2007. The young top athlete, who as this year's newcomer to the Linz elite field immediately takes his first chance to win, crosses the finish line in 2:10:23 ahead of his compatriot Elijah Kemboi. In total, more than 20,000 participants from almost 80 nations made the 17th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon a joint running festival for all sports enthusiasts in challenging weather conditions. An almost cloudless sky and warm temperatures of around 20° with some headwinds make for challenging conditions at the 17th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon Sunday morning in the Upper Austrian capital. 5 elite female athletes with personal best times under 2:30 and their 14 male colleagues around top favorite Geoffrey Mutai from Kenya, mingle seamlessly among the field of exactly 20,011 running enthusiasts from nearly 80 nations. For the second time after 2016, the run thus reaches more than 20,000 participants. Supported by the running fire "LIMA", the new Linz Marathon mascot, and more than 100,000 spectators, the starting shots for a total of 6 events will be fired on the Linz Voest freeway bridge between 8:00 and 9:30 am. The young elite athlete Robert Kipkemboi reaches his Linz debut on the long distance after 2:10:23 as first the finish at the Linz main square, but can not break the Linz course record from the year 2007. That even the second-fastest marathon runner in history is not a machine but a human being is proven by star runner Geoffrey Mutai, who falls behind halfway through the marathon and has to retire. Winner Kipkemboi: "I had to fight with headwind from the beginning, but from there I am already very satisfied with my time, which is only slightly above my previous best. I will be very happy if I can defend my title here again next year!" Second in the marathon competition is Kenyan Elijah Kemboi with a time of 2:11:30, followed by his compatriot Stephen Kiplagat with 2:11:45. Fastest Austrian is Lemawork Weldearegaye Ketema in 6th place in a time of 2:14:35, with which he also reaches the individual standard for this year's European Championships in Berlin after the team qualification: "Yes, I just missed the goal of beating my previous best. But I had a lot of headwind at the end, so I am very satisfied!"
Strong performances in the women's race
The only 24-year-old Kenyan Eddah Jepkosgei shortens her previous best by more than 6 minutes with 2:31:11 as the winner in the women's long-distance competition and thus rightly proves her status as a real diamond in the rough! Countrywoman Tecla Kirongo crosses the finish line after a time of 2:33:16. Third is the Hungarian Fruzsina Bakonyi with a time of 2:50:35. Christopher Wambua, representative of the Kenyan Embassy explains the reason for the continued success of his compatriots: "In Kenya, children often have to walk long distances every day from an early age and in a completely different climate than here in Europe to school, this shapes immensely for later life."
Gmundner and Linzer win half-marathon races
First place in the race over the half marathon distance of 21.097 kilometers went to 2017 marathon state champion Endris Seid from Gmunden in a time of 1:09:24 ahead of Lukas Vasold (1:13:50). Third place goes to Jacob Eggers from the USA in the time of 1:14:15. Best lady is the long-distance runner and four-time marathon national champion Karin Freitag from Tyrol with 1:19:46, followed by Doris Weissteiner from SG Eisacktal Raiffeisen (1:26:26). Third place goes to Lucie Snebergerová from the Czech Republic with 1:28:00.
Bettina Neumayer and Christian Kresnik ahead in the quarter marathon
Bettina Neumayer takes first place in a time of 39:32. Second place goes to Victoria Rüffler from TriRun Linz with 41:20, just ahead of Monika Gahleitner with 42:45. In the men's race Christian Kresnik (LAC Amateure Steyr) wins with 34:50 ahead of Georg Stöbich (36:45) and Alexander Meister (Mach Sport) with 36:51.
New Austrian record for handbikers
As expected, an extremely exciting match in the half marathon event of the handbikers is delivered by double world champion (2013, 2014) and Olympic champion (2012) Walter Ablinger from RSC Heindl OÖ and the world's best triathlete Thomas Frühwirth from SU Tri Styria: New Austrian record in the half marathon of the handbikers for Frühwirth in the dream time of 29:52, new best performance for the previous record holder Ablinger with 31:26! "The mutual motivation was probably decisive for our double success", a visibly enthusiastic Walter Ablinger is convinced. The performance of Maximilian Taucher from Tyrol, who was only born in 2007, was also extraordinary. As the youngest handcyclist in the field, he was able to keep up with the adults and reached the finish line after a time of 48:00.
Other notable individual performances
Year 2015 are the youngest participants (Junior Marathon), year 1937 the oldest (17th Oberbank Linz Marathon). With 536 runners =134 relay teams of 4 people, the largest group in the relay marathon is the Landjungend OÖ. Spread over all events 600 colleagues of the fire department start. Over 1,200 people and thus the largest private running group provides the hotel Guglwald. And even an entry in the Guinness Book of Records is secured by Thomas Fleischanderl from Bad Leonfelden with a time of 1:46:21 in the half marathon - run in traditional costume including lederhosen. Congratulations!
Mayor of Linz thrilled by people's emotions
Apart from the many best performances in the events, the 17th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon once again inspires as a great sports festival, which provides the opportunity for hobby running enthusiasts to connect with top world-class athletes and ensures unique moments and emotions for all participants. "This year, the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon has once again inspired you masses. Not only the runners gave top performances, but also the spectators along the course. The atmosphere was great again. 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. My thanks go to all the helpers who looked after the physical and sporting well-being of the runners as well as safety" (Mayor Klaus Luger).
18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon on 14.4.2019
Satisfied, relaxed faces after the race also among the organizing team: Mag. Wolfgang Lehner, who is stepping down from his long-standing leadership role as Linz Marathon coordinator after this year's race: "The work of our small team in recent years has been characterized by adapting our internal organizational structure to the enormous increase in the number of participants. We can be justifiably proud of this year's great event, and I am confident that the work with our young, powerful group can be continued successfully in the coming years." "From logistics to the weather to external conditions, such as this year's construction site at the start on the Voest Bridge, the challenges are of course always great. But when the last runner reaches the finish line healthy and in one piece, and you see the happy faces of all the people, you know it was more than worth the effort," says Linz Marathon organizer Ewald Tröbinger, who is also already looking forward to next year. Speaking of which, the date for the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is already fixed at Sunday, April 14, 2019.
About the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon
What began in 2002 with 5,000 sports enthusiasts has long since grown into Upper Austria's largest running event in 2018. With around 20,000 participants and 100,000 spectators from almost 80 nations, the 6-time "Marathon of the Year" in Austria now also represents a significant economic factor and tourism magnet with thousands of overnight stays in the region every year. The fast course - course record 2:07:33 by Alexander Kuzin (UKR) in 2007 - past the most beautiful places in the city with the spectacular start in the middle of the Voest freeway bridge in the center of Linz make the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon a popular destination for both professional athletes and hobby sports enthusiasts, who can compete here once a year with the fastest runners in the world. Despite its enormous growth in size, participants still value the Linz Marathon as a running festival with heart and a family feeling. The organization team attaches great importance to individually tailored service from individuals to large groups, optimal support before and during the competitions (nationwide running meetings, large marathon expo, music miles and live bands, 10 refreshment stands, finisher T-shirts, spectator stands, shuttle service...) and an associated excellent price/performance ratio. The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is AIMS certified and classified as a 5 star European Athletics Quality Road Race.
The previous winners Marathon 42,195 km
2018 Robert Kipkemboi (KEN) 2:10:23 2017 Anthony Maritiem (KEN) 2:09:11 2016 Edwin Koech (KEN) 2:09:06 2015 Anthony Maritiem (KEN) 2:09:39 2014 Laban Mutai (KEN) 2:08:33 2013 Robert Kwambai (KEN) 2:09:21 2012 Josephat Keiyo (KEN) 2:11:18 2011 Nixon Machichim (KEN) 2:09:37 2010 Jason Mbote (KEN) 2:13:20 2009 Elias Kiptum Maindi (KEN) 2:11:22 2008 Elias Kiptum Maindi (KEN) 2:10:18 2007 Alexander Kuzin (UKR) 2:07:33 (current Linz record) 2006 Benjamin Itok (KEN) 2:10:47 2005 Ernest Kipyego (KEN) 2:13:10 2004 John Kiprono (KEN) 2:13:43 2003 Joseph Mareng (KEN) 2:13:37 2002 John Kiprono (KEN) 2:13:20
To the press photos
Forfurther information: Mag. Karl Zabern, LIVA Corporate Communications, Linz Marathon Organization, A-4020 Linz, Roseggerstraße 41, Tel. +43 / 732 / 60 34 12, mail to: karl.zabern@liva.linz.at, www.liva.at
