Selly Kaptich settles for silver as records fall in Barcelona

Zeineba Yimer, a 2019 Africa Games 10,000m silver medalist, ran a tactical race to win this year's Zurich Marató Barcelona Marathon held on Sunday 19 March. 

Yimer, an NN Running Team managed athlete who was part of Ethiopia's gold-winning squad at the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia, clocked 2:19.44 to set a new course record for the win. 

Kenya's Selly Chepyego Kaptich clocked 2:20:04 to come home second while Delvine Meringor timed 2:20:48 to complete the podium places. 

It was a fast race from the start and anticipation grew as the kilometers passed that very good records would be achieved in the Catalan capital. 

The weather, cloudy at the beginning and the sun rising as the race progressed, in addition to the good temperature, was a gift for the runners who had set their sights on the records. 

Kenyan-born Bahrainian Marius Kimutai won the men's race, also in a course record as he cut the gape in 2:05:06. 

In a close finish, Moroccan olympian (ninth in Tokyo after serving a two-year doping ban) Othmanie El Goumri timed 2:05:12 for silver while Kaan Kigen Ozbilen was third in 2:05:38. 

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