Kenya's Samuel Kalalei (C) reacts before crossing the finishing line during the 35th Athens Marathon at Panathenaikon stadium in Athens, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Samuel Kalalei claimed the title of the event in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 17 seconds. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou
ATHENS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan runner Samuel Kalalei was the big winner of the 35th Athens Authentic Marathon race on Sunday, covering in 2 hours 12 minutes 17 seconds the 42 km historic course from Marathon city to the center of the Greek capital.
However, for the organizers of the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) and Greek citizens who were encouraging runners along the way, all 51,000 participants in the seven separate events held throughout a sunny Sunday here, were winners, they told Xinhua.
The crowd welcoming finishers inside the Panathenaic stadium applauded the feat of each runner, from the elite athletes to grey-haired amateurs.
Times and medals were not the priority. Athens' most significant annual sports event on the calendar is considered mostly an opportunity to celebrate life, a healthier life style, friendship and sportsmanship as well as to raise public awareness for several good causes.
Kalalei, 23, did not manage to break the record on the authentic course held since 2014 from his compatriot Felix Kipchirchir Kandie, but was cheered enthusiastically by thousands of spectators inside the marble venue of the 1896 first modern Olympic Games.
"The weather was good, not bad, but it is warm... I m feeling good," Kalalei said.
Milton Kiplagat Rotich ranked second clocking 2:14':18'' and Jonathan Yego Kiptoo, also from Kenya, followed third with 2:16':08".
Kostas Gelaouzos, who ranked 8th in the general division, was the first Greek reaching the finish line on Sunday, beating the veteran Christoforos Meroussis who followed second.
"I wanted this victory so much. I worked hard, I did my best and eventually I managed to be the first Greek finishing the classic course this year," he told Xinhua.
"For those working hard everything is possible," Panagiotis Karaiskos, the third Greek winner of the 35th Athens Marathon added.
Li Wei, who ranked 20th in the general division, was the first Chinese runner crossing the finish line on Sunday.
The 28-year-old athlete entered Panathenaic stadium wrapped in the Chinese national flag, winning the warm applause of the crowd.
"I am a runner, a marathon runner. I believe every runner should run the authentic course," he said.
In the women's division, Ethiopian runner Bedaru Hipra Badane, 18 years old, won the first place clocking 2:34':18''.
She was followed by Kenyan Alice Kibor who ranked second with 2:34': 22" and Nancy Jebichi Arusei also from Kenya who had won the third place with 2:34':51''. Arusei was the first winner in the women's division last year.
Approximately 18,500 runners from around the world followed the footsteps of the legendary Athenian soldier Pheidippides on the historic and tough 42 km course this year, out of a total of 51,000 people participating in seven races, including many shorter distance events.
Around 100,000 people were cheering for them along the course.
Betty T. was among them. She travelled to Athens from the Netherlands for the Marathon as a cheerleader in a 35-strong group of friends, relatives and colleagues. Some ran the 42km course, others joined the shorter distance events and Betty and her friends were waiting for them to celebrate after the finish line.
"It is an experience for life I think, the authentic, the audience, all those runners... It is very nice," she said.
The Athens Marathon stems from Pheidippides' feat 2,500 years ago. The messenger, according to legend, ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce Greeks' victory over the Persian forces and collapsed dead of exhaustion, inspiring modern Marathons worldwide.
