Kenya’s Onyancha wins Miami marathon
Miami, Jan 29 (EFE).- Kenya’s George Onyancha won the men’s Life Time Marathon in Miami on Sunday, the 21st edition of the event and a race in which Spain’s Nacho Hernando Angulo won the half-marathon.
Ethiopia’s Damaris Areba won the race in the women’s category, while her countrywoman Weynshet Ansa Weldestadisk won the ladies’ half-marathon.
Onyancha, on a nice day on which a hefty crowd had turned out for the race, finished the 26.2-mile (42-kilometer) race with a time of 2 hours 18 minutes and 26 seconds.
Finishing second in the men’s category was Ethiopia’s Siraj Gena, who crossed the finish line with a time of 2:24:17, while Mexico’s Oscar Caltenco Abriz came in third with 2:31:32.
Areba finished the women’s marathon with a time of 2:33:51, followed by Kenya’s Isgah Cheruto with 2:36:20 and US runner Maegan Krifchin with 2:41:24.
The men’s half marathon was taken by Madrid native Nacho Hernando Angulo in 1:08:36, followed by French runner Brice Daubord with 1:10:12.
In the women’s half-marathon, Weldestadisk prevailed with a time of 1:14:56, followed by Ukraine’s Valentyna Veretska with 1:18:41.
The large contingent of runners for this edition of the race was viewed favorably for the interest the race generated by US Track & Field, the governing body for track and field competition, and because the Miami race provides a qualifying event for the all-important and iconic Boston Marathon.
This year’s edition of the Miami event included a category for non-binary athletes, that is for people who do not identify themselves as exclusively male or female.
The 2023 edition of the race also included new elements such as the “Life Time Diaper Derby” for 25 babies ranging in age from six to 12 months, which was held a week ago at the Miami Famous Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The runners began the race in front of the Miami Arena in downtown Miami, the home court for the Miami Heat pro basketball team and the course took them along the MacArthur Causeway to Miami Beach before moving down Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue, whereupon they crossed back onto the mainland across the Venetian Causeway.
The competitors moved through the well-known areas of Brickell, Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove before crossing the finish line at Bayfront Park.
EFE –/bp
