Date: Monday, 15 April 2019
2:09:06 - the third fastest time in Linz ever
The Eritrean Merhawi Kesete wins in optimal running conditions in a time of 2:09:06 and thus delivers the third fastest time ever, which was ever run
Merhawi Kesete from Eritrea wins the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon with 2:09:06. He can improve the winning time of Edwin Koch from the year 2016 by 1 second but not crack the track record of the Ukrainian Alexander Kuzin from the year 2007. Kesete, who started for the first time in Linz, has used his chance to win in the elite field. He passes the finish in front of Felix Chemonges from Uganda (2:09:19) and Kenyan Nicholas Rotich (2:11:24). A total of around 19,400 participants from almost 80 nations make the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon in wind-free temperatures around 7 ° to a communal run for all sports enthusiasts.
A light cloud cover, no wind and temperatures around 7 ° ensure optimal conditions at the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon Sunday morning in the oö. State capital. Exactly 19,382 running enthusiasts from almost 80 nations started and made Linz the center of running sports. Supported by the wildfire "LIMA", the Linz Marathon Mascot, and more than 100,000 spectators, the starting shots for a total of 6 competitions will take place on the voest motorway bridge in Linz between 8:00 and 9:30.
The marathon winner in 2019 is Cornelia Moser. She proves her strength in an impressive time of 2:40:03 and brings with her run across the finish line equal to 3 marathon titles: Salzburg national champion, state champion marathon and 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon winner. Moser: "It was my toughest marathon so far. I am very satisfied with my victory, the atmosphere here in Linz is simply unique. "
Rank 2 was taken by an old Linz acquaintance. The runner Karin Freitag finished with 2:44:11 followed by the Croatian Nikolina Stepan with 2:46:53.
The field of state championships was not so long and dense as this year. "I am very pleased that in addition to a high level of participation this year we can also host the Marathon State Championships in Linz. This is topped with around 188 atlists and can have a 50 percent higher participation than 2018. Linz thus represents the second largest state championship in the marathon that has ever taken place. Of course, we are particularly pleased about that, "says Mag. Thomas Ziegler, Purchasing Director LIVA & Managing Director Design Center.
Born in England in 2005, Thomas Roach, a regular participant in Austrian competitions since 2005, wins the state championship title in a personal best time of 2:24:06. Roach: "I'm really very proud. That's my personal best. With such a great atmosphere, the audience literally carries you to the finish ". Second is the Upper Austrian Christian Kresnik from LAC Amateure Steyr (2:24:32) followed by Robert Gruber, Kolland Topsport Gaal (2:31:34).
Cornelia Moser finishes with 2:40:03, followed by Karin Freitag with 2:44:11 and third place Sarah Riffel with 2, with the ladies finishing 3 times (Salzburg Marathon Champion, State Champion Marathon, winner 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon) : 51: 18
The Villach Christian Robin takes 1st place in the race over the half-marathon distance of 21,097 kilometers in the time of 1:08:20. He wins clearly ahead of the half marathon winner 2018 Endris Seid from Gmunden who finished with 1:09:00. Robin says of his victory: "Endris challenged me today. But my level was great, the conditions were perfect, I'm very satisfied. Especially the last 1000 meters were awesome, the audience was a hit. "Rank three goes to the Upper Austrian Manfred Steger from Vöcklamarkt in 1:12:14.
The best lady is the French Lotifa Mokhtori 1:18:51, followed by the South Tyrolean teacher Kathrin Hanspeter (1:19:14). Third place went to Lower Austrian Conny Köpper with 1:23:47.
Anita Baierl is # 1 in a time of 38:08. Second place goes to Bernadette Schuster with 38:16 ahead of Bettina Hötzenegger with 41:00. "I came into the race well, had loose legs. It was still a head to head race with Bernadette, she was clearly ahead in the lead. I'm really happy that I could lay down a great finish sprint. I am very satisfied with my time ", says Anita Baierl on her further victory in Linz.
In the men's race, the Czech Jan Maccoun wins with 34:09 ahead of Johannes Pell from Steyr (35:52) and Martin Pötz, also from Steyr with 35:57.
An expectably exciting match in the half-marathon competition of handbikers are double world champion (2013, 2014) and Olympic champion (2012) Walter Ablinger from RSC Heindl OÖ and the world's best triathlete Thomas Frühwirth from SU Tri Styria: In the half-marathon of the hand bikers Frühwirth wins in the Time of 30:21, ranked second Florian Brungrabner with 32:35 followed by Walter Ablinger with 33:21.
Exceptionally also the performance of the only born in 2007 Maximilian diver from Vorarlberg, which can compete as the youngest handbiker in the field with the adults and reached after the time of 49:13 in eleventh the goal.
Vintage 2012 is the youngest participant on Sunday and ran the quarter marathon, born 1936 the oldest participant (quarter marathon) and born in 1944 the oldest participant in the marathon competition. With 456 runners = 114 squadrons of 4 persons the Landjugend Upper Austria was launched. In all competitions, 433 comrades were involved in the action "Feuerwehr läuft". 1,600 pupils and teachers took part in the 15-year action "Schule lauf". Over 1,000 people and thus the largest private running group put the Hotel Guglwald. The competition with the highest number of participants was the LINZ AG quarter marathon with over 6,400 entries. The participation of Heinrich Pilch, Wolfgang Tronegger, Heinz Jagemann, Ewald Eder, Klaus Nöckler and Alois Grillneder is impressive. They went as Super Golden Runner at the start and already ran all 17 previous Linz marathons over the full distance. A Super Golden Runner stood out: Herbert Orlinger finished 168 marathons in his running life!
Apart from the many best performances in the competitions, the 18th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon once again proves to be a great sports event that offers the opportunity to connect hobby runners with the top world-class athletes. This ensures unique moments and emotions among all participants. The mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger, who started as a starter in the relay (1:02:58), says: "The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon has once again inspired crowds of people, not only the runners, but also the top performers The mood was great again - the right mix makes Linz a success and brings the masses to the city - Linz is uncomplicated and service-oriented, which makes Linz so popular with athletes. As a starter in the relay I was able to convince myself. All in all, the Linz Marathon has become a festival for the whole city and it is impossible to imagine Linz without it. My thanks go to all the helpers who have taken care of the physical and sporting well-being of the runners as well as the safety. "
Satisfied, relaxed faces after the run also with the organization team: LIVA Board Member Mag. Thomas Ziegler says: "The work of our small team in recent years has been to adapt our internal organizational structure to the enormously increased numbers of participants The winning time was impressive, and the third best time ever in Linz has been considerable, and I am confident that we will be able to successfully continue our work with our young and powerful group over the coming years. "
"From logistics to the weather and external conditions, like this year's construction site on the voest bridge, the challenges are of course always great, but if the last runner is in good health and the happy faces of all People see, you know, that the effort was more than worth it ", Linz marathon organizer Ewald Tröbinger is already looking forward to the next year. By the way, the date for the 19th Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is already fixed on Sunday, 05 April 2020.
What began in 2002 with 5,000 sports fans has long since grown into Upper Austria's largest running event. With around 20,000 participants and 100,000 spectators from just under 80 nations, the newly won 7-fold "Marathon of the Year" in Austria is meanwhile also a significant economic factor and tourism magnet with thousands of overnight stays a year in the region.
The fast course - course record 2:07:33 by Alexander Kuzin (UKR) in 2007 - past the most beautiful squares of the city with the spectacular start in the middle of the voest motorway bridge in the center of Linz make the Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon a popular one A goal for professional athletes as well as hobby sports enthusiasts who can compete once in a year with the fastest runners in the world.
Despite its enormously grown size, the participants continue to value the Linz Marathon as a run with heart and family feeling. The organization team attaches great importance to individually tailored service from individuals to large groups, optimal support before and during the competitions and an associated excellent price / performance ratio. The Oberbank Linz Danube Marathon is AIMS certified and classified as a 5 star European Athletics Quality Road Race.
