Under the patronage of President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun and in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his wife, Sahar Baassiri Salam, the Beirut Marathon Association organized its 21st Beirut Marathon this morning, with the participation of fifteen thousand male and female runners representing 38 Arab and foreign countries.
The Marathon signaled a sign of relief in having a revived Lebanese spirit of life, affirming its people's right to peace, and rejecting all forms of aggression, including death, destruction, and the disruption of the state institutions concept. From the early morning hours, the Beirut waterfront area was transformed into a space of joy, pride, and honor. The race was a message to the entire world that Lebanon remains a country of civilization, culture, and creativity.
Prime Minister Salam launched the 5km race, saying: "It's a big festival. The slogan tells us that we've started from the end of our country's difficult circumstances, to the beginning of a phase of security, safety and stability, in cooperation with the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and House Speaker Nabih Berri."
This "sporting extravaganza" which lasted for more than seven hours, was attended by official and ministerial figures, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, who were all welcomed by Beirut Marathon Association Head, May El-Khalil, and members of its Administrative Board.
In the technical results, no new records were registered for the male and female runners in the competitive races. Director of Foreign Runners Hussein Makki indicated that the list of foreign runners, both male and female, comprises new generation athletes, which explains the absence of new records. "However, their participation created a competitive atmosphere with the male and female runners from Lebanon," he added.
-Marathon Results - Foreign Runners
Men's Category:
1 – Deriba Tsega (Ethiopia) 2:15:09 hours
2 – Emmanuel Serem (Kenya) 2:17:02 minutes
3 – Bekele Fitene (Ethiopia) 2:20:08 hours
Women's Category:
1 – Lamem Assefa (Ethiopia) 2:31:04 hours
2 – Horissa Degele (Ethiopia) 2:33:08 minutes
3 – Hawi Regisa (Ethiopia) 2:36:23 minutes
-Marathon Results - Lebanese Runners
Men's Category:
1 – Toni Hanna (Latz Run) 2:30:58 hours
2 – Omar Abu Hamad (Lebanese Army) 2:40:10 hrs
3 – Samir Salman (Antonine) 2:42:49 hrs
Women's Category:
1 – Sherine Njeim (Inter Lebanon) 2:50:38 hrs
2 – Michel Bedrzek 2:59:34 hrs
3 – Katia Rashed (Latz Run) 3:13:38 hrs
Half Marathon:
Men's Category:
1 – Charbel Sejaan (Inter Lebanon) 1:11:21 hrs
2 – Zaher Zeineddine (Lebanese Army) 1:12:57 hrs
3 – Bilal Awada (Lebanese Army) 1:12:57 hrs
Women's Category:
1 – Karen Shreim (Blue Stars) 1:28:20 hrs
2 – Nour Khoury 1: 28:24
3 – Yasmine Al-Ashkar (Latz Run) 1:31:06
Special Needs Category (Half Marathon)
Men's Category:
1 – Jamal Al-Sous 24:04 minutes
2 – Ahmed Shibli 24:04 minutes
3 – Mahmoud Awad 24:06 minutes
Women's Category:
1 – Mona Al-Lahib 27:05 minutes
2 – Nada Khoja 40:04 minutes
3 – Noha Atry 49:04 minutes
10K Race:
Men's Category:
1 – Ali Kanaan (Lebanese Army) 31:09 minutes
2 – Mahmoud Abu Zeid (Inter Lebanon) 31:16
3 – Ivan Maksimov 33:54
-Women's Category:
1 – Serena Hayek (Inter Lebanon) 39:36 minutes
2 – Nada Al Kurdi (Blue Stars) 39:56
3 – Amal Sabbah 39:56
Blind Category (Men):
1 – Abbas Zeidan 59:19 minutes
2 – Fadi Homsi 59:19
3 – Ragheed Haidar 1:09:45 hr
At the end of the Marathon, awards were distributed to the winners. The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), the official broadcaster of the race, provided live coverage of the various segments of the Marathos. A field studio was set up, hosting numerous dignitaries, and live information and results were broadcast by colleagues as well.
The Lebanese Army Band was also present and played the national anthem to inaugurate the Marathon event.
