Degitu Azmeraw leads an Ethiopian podium sweep at Barcelona Marathon

Addis Ababa, March 11, 2024 (FBC) – Degitu Azimeraw led an Ethiopian podium sweep of the women’s race at the Zurich Marató Barcelona, the World Athletics Gold Label road race on Sunday (10).

Degitu, who was contesting her first marathon since giving birth, won in 2:19:52 – just eight seconds shy of the course record.

She was part of a pack of five women in the first half, running alongside fellow Ethiopians Shuko Genemo, Meseret Dinke, Zinash Senbeta and Kenya’s Aurelia Jerotich Kiptui through 10km in 33:01.

By the half-way point, reached in 1:09:52, just the Ethiopian quartet remained in the lead. Less than 10km later, Degitu started to break away from her compatriots and by the time she reached 30km (1:39:00) she had a seven-second lead over Dinke.

Shuko Genemo overtook Meleka with about seven kilometres remaining, but there was no catching Azimeraw, who went on to win by almost two minutes in 2:19:52. Shuko finished second in 2:21:35 and Meseret Dinke was third in 2:22:58.