MUMBAI, 15 JANUARY, 2023 (GPN):
Ethiopian runners took top honors at the 2023 Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) held on Sunday, January 15.

The men’s elite category was won by Hayle Lemi of Ethiopia, who finished in a new course record of two hours, seven minutes and 32 seconds. His compatriot Anchialem Haymanot finished first among elite women, covering the distance in 2:24:15, another new course record.

Lemi was followed to the finish line by Philemon Rono (2:08:44) and Hailu Zewdu (2:10:23). In the women’s category, Rahma Tusa (2:24:22) finished second and Letebrhan Haylay (2:24:52) finished third.

The women started their race at a fast pace and there was a keen tussle between five Ethiopian runners at the midway stage. Worknesh Alemu, the 2019 champion here, drew from her past experience on the course to take the lead at that point.

However, Haymanot, a marathon debutant, broke away from Alemu. Rahma Tusa, two-time Rome Marathon winner, and 2022 Sydney marathon runner-up Letebrhan Haylay ran shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

“Running along with these two experienced runners with fast timings to their credit was really a challenge, but I gained much experience from them,” Haymanot said at a post-race press conference.

Among elite Indian men, Gopi T (2:16:41) finished first followed by Man Singh (2:16:58) and Kalidas Hirave (2:19:54).The Elite Indian podium finishers were richer by Rs 500,000, Rs 400,000 and Rs 300,000, respectively. Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary bettered her course mark in the women’s half marathon and Murli Gavit won the men’s crown. The podium finishers took home Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 60,000, respectively.

In the elite Indian women’s category, Chavi Yadav (2:50:35) placed first; Arati Patil (3:00:44) placed second and Renu Singh (3:01:11) Third.

Gopi fell short of the upcoming Asian Games cut-off of 2:15 but said the win in India’s largest marathon gave him a tremendous boost.

“It felt good to be back after three years. I maintained a good pace for the first 30-odd kilometres but slowed down towards the end,” the Army runner told a news conference. “I never give up,” added Gopi, who previously won in 2018.

Bhopal’s Chavi said she was running the classic distance for the first time. “I didn’t run more than 25 km even in training,” she told a news conference. Arati Patil finished second, over 10 minutes behind, and Renu Singh was third.

Lemi, the overall winner of 2023 TMM, had won the 2016 edition of the Boston Marathon.

The 2016 Boson Marathon winner ran alongside the defending champion and countryman Derara Hurisa, Kenyan Philemon Rono and half a dozen other runners as they passed through the iconic Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link towards the halfway mark.

Lemi, Rono and another Ethiopian Hailu Zewdu broke away from the rest of the group at the 26th km. The three athletes climbed the Peddar Road together on their return journey. Lemi increased his pace while coming down to enter Chowpatty beach corner and started running on the Marine Drive well ahead of the other two.

Tata Mumbai Marathon was being held after a gap of two years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to news reports ahead of the event, over 50,000 people were due to participate across categories ranging from elite and amateur marathons to the half marathon, the 10K and the dream run.

In the open category, the overall winners in the men’s marathon were Nanjundappa M (2:27:41), Nihal Baig (2:28:17) and Manoj Kumar Yadav (2:29:02). Overall winners in the women’s category were Sarswati Rai (3:14:26), Manisha Joshi (3:18:39) and Darishisha Iangjuh (3:22:29).

In the half marathon, the top three finishers among men were Murli Gavit (1:05:16), Ankit Deshwal (1:05:45) and Dipak Kumbhar (1:05:48). Among women, the winners were Parul Chaudhary (1:15:03), Nandini Gupta (1:24:09) and Poonam Sonune (1:24:56).

The 2023 edition of TMM will be remembered for its supportive weather conditions. For the major portion of the race, the weather was quite cool. Thanks to infrastructure projects commenced years ago yet to be completed in the city, the route of the half marathon was altered. This time the half marathon began in Mahim, proceeded towards Bandra and the Sea Link and then mostly followed the route of the previous years.