FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4th Victory for Kenyan Kositany at Belfast City Marathon
Chairman of the Belfast Marathon Organising Committee Apologized
for the 460 Additional Metres
David Seaton, Chairman of the Belfast Marathon Organising Committee said:
"On behalf of the organising committee, we would like to apologise to
competitors of today's race. Approximately 460 additional metres were added
to the officially measured course of 26.2 miles. This was due to human
error, with the lead car diverting from the official route. I can assure
all participants that protocols will be put in place to ensure this never
happens again. In the meantime, we are in the process of adjusting runners
times to reflect the correct distance. Feedback on the new route has been
overwhelmingly positive and we thank the thousands of spectators who lined
the route to support 18,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletics."
On 5 May 2019, close to 18,000 participants made history taking part in the
38th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon on a Sunday for the first time
ever. Including the Marathon Run and Wheelchair Race, Marathon Team Relay,
9 Mile Walk and Fun Run.
This is a record year for the event with the highest numbers ever for the
Marathon alone, with approximately 5000 trying out the brand new flatter
marathon route, a 60% increase from last year. 2019 has also seen an
increase of Team Relay participants, with around 2,400 "five person" relay
teams signed up this year.
This was a great day for the Kenyan's with Joel Kositany winning the 38th
Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon in a time of 2.17.09 (beating his 2018
time of 2.23.40). Eric Koech was second in a time of 2.17.18. Bernard
Rotich arrived in 3rd place with a time of 2.17.22.
For the ladies, Kenyan Caroline Jepchirchir won for the 2nd year in a row
at 2.34.55. This is the fastest ever finish for a woman in Belfast! In
second place, Shewaye Wolde Meskel 2.35.50 and in third place Vira Ovcharuk
in a time of 2.37.13.
For the Marathon Wheelchair Race, Jim Corbett claimed victory in a time of
2.19.21, Karol Doherty finished in second place in 2.33.06 (beating his
2018 time of 2.46.34). In third place, James Divin in a time of 2.35.48.
Fantastic results also from NI & Ulster Championship Marathon "local"
winners. For the men, Jarlath McKenna first in a time of 2.26.18, in
second place Vincent McKenna 2.30.41 and Max Travers in third place
2.35.23.
For the local ladies, Gladys Ganiel came in first 2.39.18, Catherine
Johnston second in a time of 2.58.21 and Louise Smith third with 2.59.51.
The Top 100 marathon finishers are represented here now. A full list of
the results from today will be available on the Belfast Live website this
evening at www.belfastlive.co.uk and on the Belfast City Marathon website
at www.belfastcitymarathon.com on Monday 6th May.
For further updates, follow the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern
Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Better, Translink, Daily
Mirror, Spar, Belfast Live and Framar Health. Sampling partners are Deep
RiverRock, Tayto, White's Oats and Linwoods. This year's official
charities are Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust (BART); Cancer Focus NI;
Stroke Association; Air Ambulance NI and Action Mental Health.
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