Elfnesh Melaku of Ethiopia wins Athens Marathon
Athens, Greece – Elfnesh Melaku of Ethiopia won the 29th Athens Classic Marathon women race here today in a time of 2:35.25.
The men’s race was won by Abdelkrim Boubker of Morocco (2:11.40), followed by two Kenyans Sammy Chumba (2:13.27) and Daniel Gatheru (2:16.12).
Elfnesh Melaku and Kamila Khanipova of Ukraine ran shoulder to shoulder for close to 42k, before Melaku sprinted away, to win in 2:35:25, with the Ukrainian just six seconds back. Amira Benamor of Tunisia was third in 2:42:15.
Road Race
Ethiopia’s Kassahun Jebel won the men’s 10,000-meter race, with Popi  Astropekaki winning the women’s.
Results:
WOMEN:
1. Elfnesh Melaku (Ethiopia)   2:35:25
2. Kamila Khanipova (Ukraine)   2:35:31
3. Amira Benamor (Tunisia)     2:42:15
Men:
1. Abdelkerim Boubker (Morocco)  2:11:40
2. Sammy Chumba (Kenya)      2:13:27
3. Daniel Gatheru (Kenya)     2:16:12
