Prague Marathon

The Prague Marathon (also known as Prague International Marathon (PIM) and Volkswagen Prague Marathon) is held in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic each May. It was founded in 1995 and has grown to become a significant marathon event, being awarded IAAF Gold Label status.[1] According to media it is the world's most international marathon, with two-thirds of runners coming from 55 different countries. Prague's marathon course is also the seventh-fastest and has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world.[2]

Prague Marathon
DateMay
LocationPrague, Czech Republic
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorVolkswagen
Established1995
Course recordsMen's: 2:05:39 (2010)
Eliud Kiptanui
Women's: 2:19:46 (2019)
Lonah Chemtai
Official sitePrague Marathon
Participants7,290 (2019)
Finish line of the 2008 marathon

History

The Prague Marathon event takes place over a full weekend and comprises several events, including the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, the Volkswagen Family Minimarathon 4.2 km, the Allianz Eco Walk 2 km, and the In-line party 6.5 km - a skating event. The Hervis Prague Half Marathon, which is also awarded IAAF Gold Label status, is held each March or April.[3]

Since its inception in 1995, the men's race has been dominated by East African runners, with Kenyan athletes in particular winning 13 titles alone. Hélder Ornelas became the first and so far only European men's winner in 2007. The winners of the women's race have been mainly Russian and Kenyan. Elena Vinitskaya of Belarus is the most successful women's athlete however, with her three straight wins from 1996 to 1998. Eliud Kiptanui is the men's record holder with 2:05:39 hours while Lonah Chemtai Salpeter has the women's course best of 2:19:45 hours.[4]

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the options of transferring their entry to 2021 or 2022 and transferring their entry to another runner.[lower-alpha 1][6][7]

Winners
Taking on refreshment during the 2010 Prague Marathon

Key:   Course record   Czech Republic championship race

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 1995  Tumo Turbo (ETH) 2:12:44  Svetlana Tkach (MDA) 2:39:33
2nd 1996  William Musyoki (KEN) 2:12:21  Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR) 2:37:33
3rd 1997  John Kagwe (KEN) 2:09:07  Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR) 2:32:58
4th 1998  Elijah Lagat (KEN) 2:08:52  Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR) 2:34:25
5th 1999  Eliud Kering (KEN) 2:11:19  Franca Fiacconi (ITA) 2:28:33
6th 2000  Simon Chemoiywo (KEN) 2:10:35  Alina Ivanova (RUS) 2:27:42
7th 2001  Andrea Sipe (TAN) 2:10:14  Maura Viceconte (ITA) 2:26:33
8th 2002  Henry Kiprotich (KEN) 2:11:41  Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) 2:32:24
9th 2003  Willy Kipkirui (KEN) 2:11:56  Anne Jelagat (KEN) 2:31:10
10th 2004  Barnabas Kipkoech (KEN) 2:12:15  Leila Aman (ETH) 2:31:48
11th 2005  Steven Cheptot (KEN) 2:10:42  Salina Kosgei (KEN) 2:28:42
12th 2006  Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) 2:11:11  Alina Ivanova (RUS) 2:29:20
13th 2007  Hélder Ornelas (POR) 2:11:49  Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) 2:33:10
14th 2008  Kenneth Mungara (KEN) 2:11:06  Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS) 2:31:43
15th 2009  Patrick Ivuti (KEN) 2:07:48  Olga Glok (RUS) 2:28:27
16th 2010  Eliud Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:39  Helena Kirop (KEN) 2:25:29
17th 2011  Benson Barus (KEN) 2:07:07  Lydia Cheromei (KEN) 2:22:34
18th 2012  Deressa Chimsa (ETH) 2:06:25  Agnes Kiprop (KEN) 2:25:40
19th 2013  Nicholas Kemboi (QAT) 2:08:51  Caroline Rotich (KEN) 2:27:00
20th 2014  Patrick Terer (KEN) 2:08:07  Firehiwot Dado (ETH) 2:23:34
21st 2015  Felix Kandie (KEN) 2:08:32  Yebrgual Melese (ETH) 2:23:49
22nd 2016  Lawrence Cherono (KEN) 2:07:24  Lucy Karimi (KEN) 2:24:46
23rd 2017  Gebretsadik Abraha (ETH) 2:08:47  Valary Aiyabei (KEN) 2:21:57
24th 2018  Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07  Bornes Kitur (KEN) 2:24:19
25th 2019  Almahjoub Dazza (BHR) 2:05:58  Lonah Chemtai (ISR) 2:19:46
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[6]

Multiple wins
Athlete Wins Category Years
 Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)3Women's1996, 1997, 1998
 Alina Ivanova (RUS)2Women's2000, 2006
 Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS)2Women's2007, 2008

By country
Country Total Men's Women's
 Kenya25169
 Ethiopia633
 Russia606
 Belarus303
 Italy202
 Qatar220
 Moldova101
 Tanzania110
 Portugal110
 United States110
 Bahrain110
 Israel101

Notes
  1. It had initially been postponed before being cancelled.[5]

References
  1. "Prague International Marathon - IAAF Gold Label for Volkswagen Prague Marathon!". www.praguemarathon.com. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  2. "Volkswagen Prague Marathon in Prague, Czech Republic, NA: Details at Runner's World.com". runnersworld.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  3. "Prague International Marathon - Prague International Marathon receives the Prestigious IAAF Gold Label for its Hervis Prague Half Marathon". www.praguemarathon.com. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  4. Prague International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2012-05-13.
  5. www.fg.cz, 2013, FG Forrest, a s. "Volkswagen Prague Marathon 2020 is postponed | RunCzech". runczech.com.
  6. https://www.runczech.com/en/for-you/for-runners/cancellation-and-new-race-dates/information/index.shtml
  7. https://www.runczech.com/en/for-you/for-runners/cancellation-and-new-race-dates/faq/index.shtml
List of winners
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