Dream Debut: Juliet Chekwel Wins Sevilla Marathon

Uganda’s long-distance runner Juliet Chekwel claimed the biggest victory in her career when she stunned a rich field to win Sevilla Marathon.

Chekwel, who was making her debut in Marathon, pulled away from Ethiopia’s Gada Bontu after cruising past the 40km mark to win in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 13 seconds.

She also beat the course record set by Guteni Shone in 2019 by 44 seconds. Shone set a new course record with a victory in 2:24:29.

The race curved into a battle between Chekwel, Bontu and Sifan Belaku with the trio passing through halfway in 1:23:19 as the 2018 Nairobi Marathon champion Josephine Chepkoech from Kenya fell off.

It was left to a two-horse race between Chekwel and Belaku after the two Africans pulled away from 2020 Saulo Paulo International Marathon champion just before the 35km mark.

Bekalu was initially able to stay with her when Chepkoech made a break at the 20-mile mark, but could not maintain the pace and drifted away some four miles from the finish.

The 29-year-old Chekwel would step on her gas pedal to hit the 40km mark in 2:16:19 as Bontu stayed behind with eight seconds with Bekalu falling back to cross the 40km in 2:17:34.

In men’s race, Ethiopia’s Mekuant Gebre also broke the course record by clocking 2hrs, 4 minutes and 46 seconds.

He also shaved 4 minutes and 14 seconds off from his previous personal best set in Prague in 2017.

Kenya’s Barnabas Kiptum clocked 2:05:05 to take second place while former Paris Marathon champion Regasa Bejiga took third place with 2:06:24.

Results of Sunday’s Zurich Sevilla Marathon:

Men
1 Mekuant Ayenew (ETH) 2:04:46
2 Barnabas Kiptum (KEN) 2:05:05
3 Regasa Bejiga (ETH) 2:06:24
4 Workneh Tesfa (ETH) 2:06:27
5 Michael Kunyuga (KEN) 2:06:43
6 Bazu Worku (ETH) 2:06:47
7 Eyob Faniel (ITA) 2:07:19
8 Maru Teferi (ETH) 2:07:20
9 Alemayehu Mekonen (ETH) 2:07:23
10 Javier Guerra (ESP) 2:07:28

Women
1 Juliet Chekwel (UGA) 2:23:13
2 Gada Bontu (ETH) 2:23:39
3 Sifan Melaku (ETH) 2:23:49
4 Josephine Chepkoech (KEN) 2:24:14
5 Purity Changwony (KEN) 2:24:30
6 Gladys Tejeda (PER) 2:27:07
7 Beji Bekelu (ETH) 2:27:50
8 Melkam Gizaw (ETH) 2:28:05
9 Anja Scherl (GER) 2:28:25
10 Marcela Gómez (ARG) 2:28:58