The winners 2017

Anthony Maritim (KEN) wins 16th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon.

The 16th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon took place on Sunday in bright sunshine and light winds. In its sixteenth year, 19,300 runners from over 70 nations took part in the Linz Marathon. The athletes provided impressive times. However, the course record of 2:07.33 hours, set since 2007 by Ukrainian Alexander Kuzin, could not be broken. The Kenyan Anthony Maritim set in Linz with 2:09:11 the fourth best time run in the marathon competition in the last sixteen years. Kenyan Anthony Maritim (Linz winner 2015, 2:09:39) crossed the finish line in Linz after 2:09:11, setting the fourth best marathon time run in Linz. The light wind caused some problems for the leading field: "I am nevertheless very happy to have reached here the fourth best time of the last years. The atmosphere and the cheers of the spectators were unique, I really wanted to feel the winning feeling again here in Linz," said Maritim. Second in the marathon competition was Kenyan Oliaulo Ngatuny Emmanuel with a time of 2:11:05 followed by his compatriot Kimutai Kering with 2:15:22. Fastest Austrian and thus in 4th place was Ketema Lemawork of the Oberbank Power Team in a time of 2:16:08. "It was a great experience to run here in Linz, the people are totally nice and cheered me on. Unfortunately, from kilometer 28 my pacemaker became too slow. Unfortunately, I could not reach the targeted World Championship qualifying time for Londen of 2:15:00 today," says Ketema Lemawork.

Women's field led by Croatian Nikolina Stepan

Croatian Nikolina Stepan finished fastest with a time of 2:43:6. Austrian Karin Freitag from Itter was second with a time of 2:46:27. (Note: Croatian Dr. Danijela Kuna finished with a time of 2:43:55 in the marathon event, but was disqualified).

Andrea Mayr and Antia Baierl in the quarter marathon lonely top

"Austria's fastest doctor" the top runner and Upper Austrian Andrea Mayr and Anita Baierl dominated the women's quarter marathon. Mayr took first place in a "pleasure run" as she says, in a time of 36:19. "It's just always fun to run in my hometown, it totally suits me. The family atmosphere and the cheers of the spectators already give you a really great feeling," Mayr said. Ania Baierl, the figurehead of LINZA AG, was unable to defend her title from last year and finished second in a time of 37:56. Third place went to Elisabeth Feizlmayr from Freistadt with 42:35. Peter Herzog from Saalfelden won the men's race with 32:18, ahead of Somali Abdilaahi Mustafe (33:50) and third-placed Alexander Bründl from Wels (35:01).

Austrian Christian Haas in second place in the half marathon

First place in the half marathon went to Switzerland's Geronimo von Wartburg (1:10:29) ahead of Austria's Christian Haas (01:10:37). Third place went to Slovenia's Robert Kotnik with the time 01:12:12. "Unfortunately it was not enough to break my best time of 1:10:19. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied, the conditions were optimal," said Haas. As in the previous year, the best lady was Tina Fischl from Passau with 1:17:44 followed by the Austrian Bernadette Schuster (1:19:40) who delivered her personal best time in Linz. My goal was a time around 1:18:00, but I can still be very satisfied," said Schuster. Third place went to Andrea Springer from Upper Austria with 1:24:41.

Mayor of Linz pleased with consistently high number of participants

For years now, the Linz Marathon has been developing ever upwards in terms of participant numbers. "This is an absolutely great festival for the city. The runners are literally carried along by a surge of enthusiasm," Luger said of the lively public participation along the course. "The city is 100% behind this marathon and thanks all the "enablers", the media partners and of course sponsors to implement such an event and create such a great atmosphere. This is a celebration for the whole city," Luger continued.

Spread out starting field and additional target hub guaranteed optimal conditions for runners

For the sixth time, the spread-out starting times in Linz proved to be a perfect measure. The quarter marathon started one hour before the other running events. In addition, the finish bib for the large mass of quarter marathon runners was moved from Pfarrplatz back to the Lentos Museum and the run-out area at the finish was enlarged. "With this measure we could guarantee optimal ser-vice conditions for all runners also after the race. Especially at the start and in the finish area it was important for us to separate the masses to create better conditions", LIVA Marathon coordinator Wolfgang Lehner is satisfied with the organization. "The fact that, despite the beginning of the Easter vacations, with 19,300 participants and tens of thousands of spectators along the course, we are following the high level of recent years shows how much Linz has established itself in the international running calendar. We are very pleased about this high number of participants, which is an incentive for us to continue to improve the high quality of the Linz Marathon," says LIVA Board Director Thomas Ziegler.

19,300 runners and tens of thousands of spectators in fantastic running weather

19,300 participants took part in the various running events of the 16th Oberbank Linz Marathon. Tens of thousands of spectators cheered on the athletes along the course in perfect weather conditions. In total, athletes from over 70 nations competed in the Linz Marathon. The first starters of the quarter marathon at 8:30 a.m., went into the running competition at a fresh six degrees. Optimal weather conditions with a light easterly wind ensured pure running pleasure. The mass of runners, the marathon, half and relay competition went to the start at nine degrees and sun. The daily highs rose between16 and 22 degrees. The optimal running weather thus also provided the best conditions for the elite field. Not only the athletes needed a lot of patience, but also the helpers and logisticians around the Linz Marathon. Five tons of bananas, 18,000 crispy marathon cookies and 30,000 liters of isotonic drinks were distributed at eleven refreshment stations. 140 police officers, 200 Red Cross paramedics and around 218 volunteer stewards ensured that everything ran smoothly at the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon.

The previous winners

2002 John Kiproni from Kenya
2003 Joseph Mereng from Kenya
2004 John Kiprono rejoiced for the second time
2005 the winner was Ernest Kipyego from Kenya
2006 Benjamin Itok also from the East African state of Kenya
In 2007, the only victory so far was by a European. Ukrainian Alexander Kuzin won in the still valid record time of 2:07:33.
In 2008 the first victory of Elisa Kiptum Maindi followed.
2009 the Kenyan Elisa Kiptum Maindi won a second time
2010 Jason Mbote from Kenya was unbeatable
2011 Nixon Kipkoech Machichim from Kenya
2012 Josephat Keiyo from Kenya secured the victory
2013 Robert Kwambai of Kenya was unbeatable.
2014 Kenyan Laban Mutai wins with the second fastest time ever run in Linz of 2:08:03
2015 Kenyan Anthony Maritim wins with 2:09:39
2016 Kenyan Edwin Koech takes first place with 2:09:06, the third fastest time ever run in Linz.
2017 Kenyan Anthony Maritim wins with 2:09:011 for the second time in his career in Linz.