On April 28, the Madrid Marathon drew tens of thousands of participants, with notable performances from Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in both the men’s and women’s events.
Ethiopia’s lead runner dominated much of the 42-kilometer course but faced challenges in the final 7 kilometers due to heat stroke and a hamstring strain. Despite this, he rallied and secured his second career victory.
Mitku Tafa clinched first place, with Fikre Bekele and Kenyan Douglas Chebii closely trailing behind in second and third, respectively, with Tafa completing the race in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 58 seconds.
In the women’s race, Naom Jebet, the 2023 Nairobi City Marathon champion, triumphed for the first time on an international stage. Jebet maintained a commanding lead, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 20 seconds, outpacing Ethiopia’s Bontu Bekele by 44 seconds. Another Ethiopian, Kebene Chala, secured third place.