Belgrade Marathon

The Belgrade Marathon is a marathon race held annually in Belgrade since 1988. It is typically held in mid-April and also features a half marathon and a fun run for the public. The Belgrade Marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in Serbia.

Belgrade Marathon
Former president Boris Tadić running during the 25th Belgrade Marathon in 2012
DateMid-April
LocationBelgrade, Serbia
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, half marathon, 5K run
Established1988 (1988)
Course recordsMen's: 2:10:54 (2006)
Japhet Kosgei
Women's: 2:29:44 (2001)
Cristina Pomacu
Official siteBelgrade Marathon
Participants988 (2019)
Serbian postage stamp featuring the 30th Belgrade Marathon in 2017
Start line in 2014
Finish line on Terazije in 2011
Finisher medal in 2019

History

A marathon existed in 1910 from Obrenovac to Belgrade.

A group of enthusiasts came up with a plan to restore the 1910 race. The first modern marathon in Belgrade took place on 8 May 1988.[1] It was 23 km (14 mi) long, and only Yugoslavian athletes participated.[2]

The track length of the 1989 marathon was 46.7 km (29.0 mi), with the start and finish being in front of the Federal Parliament Building.

Since 1990 the Belgrade Marathon has a standard 42.195 km (26.219 mi) length.

The 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia did not prevent the marathon from taking place that year, and on April 17 the race was held as a metered group run.[3] About 40 runners from nine countries crossed the finish line at 3 hours 15 minutes and 16 seconds. The runners from NATO countries were Seine Brenson from the US, and Michael Turzynski and Heinz Lorber from Germany. The latter two are also founding members of the German 100 Marathon Club.

The Yugoslav Sport Society "Partizan" took it upon itself to organize the marathon. The City of Belgrade, its departments and communal services helped organize the event. Also involved were the executive bodies of city government, the Army of Serbia, the Serbian Police, and a number of sponsors. In September 2003, Belgrade declared that the Marathon is an event of special importance for the city. The same organisers also arrange the Belgrade Race Through History, a race around the city's Kalemegdan fortress, which started in 1996.[4]

In 2020, the race was initially postponed to 18 October 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[5] However, the marathon was eventually cancelled after the organizers were unable to secure approval to hold the marathon with coronavirus controls in place.[6][7]

Other races

In addition to the marathon, the event also holds three other races.

  • The Kids Marathon is a race for children
  • The Fun Run is the event with the most participants (5 km)
  • The Half-marathon is a half-distance marathon that is in accordance with world standards

Winners
The men's race in 2006
William Kwambai Kipchumba topped the podium in 2008
   Course record
   Serbian championship race
Date Men's winner Time[lower-alpha 1] Women's winner Time[lower-alpha 1] Rf.
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[6]
2019.04.14  Isaac Kiprop (KEN) 2:16:54  Judith Jeptum (KEN) 2:45:04
2018.04.21  Kristijan Stošić (SRB) 2:45:23  Nora Trklja (SRB) 3:08:46
2017.04.22  Stephen Katam (KEN) 2:21:12  Olivera Jevtić (SRB) 2:38:03
2016.04.17  Albert Rop (KEN) 2:23:59  Stella Barsosio (KEN) 2:43:41
2015.04.18  Silas Sang (KEN) 2:14:42  Abebu Gelan (ETH) 2:34:14
2014.04.27  Bernard Talam (KEN) 2:14:35  Valary Aiyabei (KEN) 2:37:08
2013.04.21  Edwin Kitum (KEN) 2:19:34  Olivera Jevtić (SRB) 2:36:12
2012.04.22  James Barmasai (KEN) 2:16:01  Mary Ptikani (KEN) 2:42:47
2011.04.17  Gebrselassie Tsegaye (ETH) 2:14:41  Frasiah Waithaka (KEN) 2:34:31
2010.04.18  Johnstone Maiyo (KEN) 2:16:23  Hellen Mugo (KEN) 2:41:19
2009.04.18  Victor Kigen (KEN) 2:13:28  Anne Kosgei (KEN) 2:34:51
2008.04.19  William Kipchumba (KEN) 2:14:03  Natalia Chatkina (BLR) 2:46:24
2007.04.21  John Maluni (KEN) 2:11:53  Olivera Jevtić (SRB) 2:35:46
2006.04.22  Japhet Kosgei (KEN) 2:10:54  Halina Karnatsevich (BLR) 2:34:35
2005.04.23  Medeksa Derba (ETH) 2:12:10  Inga Abitova (RUS) 2:38:20
2004.04.24  Christopher Isengwe (TAN) 2:12:53  Rose Nyangacha (KEN) 2:35:55
2003.10.18[lower-alpha 2]  Benson Ogato (KEN) 2:14:48  Zhanna Malkova (RUS) 2:40:24
2002.04.20  Geoffrey Kinyua (KEN) 2:18:48  Rodica Chiriţă (ROM) 2:40:55
2001.04.21  Mluleki Nobanda (RSA) 2:15:11  Cristina Pomacu (ROM) 2:29:44
2000.04.22  Thabiso Moqhali (LES) 2:15:08  Cristina Pomacu (ROM) 2:36:54
1999.04.17 official group run as demonstration against NATO bombing of Yugoslavia 3:15:16
1998.04.25  Reuben Chebutich (KEN) 2:12:51  Irina Bogacheva (KGZ) 2:32:07
1997.04.19  Josephat Ndeti (KEN) 2:13:38  Irina Bogacheva (KGZ) 2:34:57
1996.04.20  Hussein Salah (DJI) 2:14:15  Izabela Zatorska (POL) 2:36:51
1995.04.22  Vladimir Kotov (BLR) 2:14:00  Izabela Zatorska (POL) 2:40:27
1994.04.23  Vladimir Bukhanov (UKR) 2:12:28  Cristina Pomacu (ROM) 2:33:08
1993.04.24  Jacob Ngunzu (KEN) 2:16:09  Suzana Ćirić (SCG) 2:40:27
1992.04.25  Nicolas Nyengerai (ZIM) 2:16:07  Garifa Blaizanova (KAZ) 2:45:12
1991.05.04  Agapius Masong (TAN) 2:16:23  Karla Mališová (CSK) 2:47:10 [8][1][9]
1990.05.05  Joseph Nzau (KEN) 2:19:32  Suzana Ćirić (YUG) 2:45:08 [8][1]
1989.05.06  Dragan Isailović (YUG) 2:34:48[lower-alpha 3]  Suzana Ćirić (YUG) 3:03:21[lower-alpha 3] [8][1]
1988.05.08  Rifat Zilkić (YUG) 1:09:02[lower-alpha 4]  Radislavka Racić (YUG) no data [2][1][8]

Notes
  1. h:m:s
  2. Postponed from April to October, due to state of emergency in the country, following the assassination of prime minister Zoran Đinđić.
  3. Course was 46.7 km (29.0 mi) in length.[1][8]
  4. Course was 23 km (14 mi) in length.[1][8]

References
  1. https://arrs.run/HP_BlgMa.htm
  2. https://www.snews.rs/rifat-zilkic-pobjednik-prvog-beogradskog-maratona/
  3. Butcher, Pat (1999-10-11). Paul Tergat to race through history. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-10-15.
  4. The Belgrade Race Through History Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Belgrade Marathon. Retrieved on 2009-10-15.
  5. http://www.bgdmarathon.org/v/92a21583-1e99-4841-9f7c-597851cc9d40/33rd-Belgrade-Marathon-is-postponed-for-October-18th-2020.aspx
  6. https://www.bgdmarathon.org/v/a5c9b564-b00d-4791-9ba1-92e8876b6f30/Beogradski-maraton-nije-dobio-odobrenje-za-odrzavanje.aspx
  7. https://www.nedeljnik.rs/otkazan-beogradski-maraton-da-naravno-zbog-koronavirusa/
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018030126/https://fedorabg.bg.ac.rs/fedora/get/o:8084/bdef:Content/get
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20201019033101/https://www.behej.com/bezecke-tabulky/zavodnici/2643-malisova-karla
List of winners
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