Tel Aviv Marathon

The Tel Aviv Marathon is a major marathon held annually in Tel Aviv, Israel, in February. Inaugurated in 1981, it was held annually until 1994.[1] In 2009, it was revived and has been taking place annually since, attracting about 40,000 runners in 2016.[2] The most recent winners were German Tobias Singer and Russian Elena Tolstykh.[3][4][5]

Tel Aviv Marathon
Date	February
Location	Tel Aviv, Israel
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon
Primary sponsor	Samsung
Established	1981
Course records	Men: 2:10:30 William Yegon (2015) Women: 2:35:51 Margaret Njuguna (2017)
Official site	Tel Aviv Marathon
Participants	2,181 (2020)

History

The marathon is one of Tel Aviv's core annual international events. The Tel Aviv Marathon is a multi-course event allowing both professional and hobbyist runners to take part. The event includes an Inline Skating Half Marathon, and a 30 km Handcycle race for people with special needs. Marathon runners run along the seashore and main streets of Tel Aviv, an official UNESCO world heritage site.[6]

Some 35,000 runners were expected to take part in the 2013 marathon, with a range of different courses on offer.[7] Due to unexpectedly high temperatures, the marathon did not take place as originally scheduled on March 15, 2013. Other races scheduled as part of the event, including the half marathon, 10 km races, 4.2 km race, and children's race did take place, but started earlier in the day than originally scheduled. Despite the precautions, one runner died, and twelve others were seriously injured.[8]

For the 2020 edition of the marathon, although foreigners were initially banned from competing due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic,[9][10][11] the Ministry of Health partially lifted the ban days before the competition and allowed "diplomats, foreign residents, and international residents" that were already in Israel to participate in the marathon.[12][13]

Course records

The men's course record is 2:10:30, set in the 2015 edition by William Yegon of Kenya.

The Israeli men's course record is 2:27:25, set in the 2017 edition by Marhu Teferi.

The women's course record is 2:35:51, set in the 2017 edition by Margaret Njuguna of Kenya.

The Israeli women's course record is 2:51:23, set in the 2019 edition by Irene-Orr Konovalov.

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Date	Men's winner	Time	Women's winner	Time
27 Feb 2020	Tobias Singer (GER)	2:31:01	Elena Tolstykh (RUS)	2:44:17
22 Feb 2019	Samuel Demie (ETH)	2:14:31	Margaret Njuguna (KEN)	2:40:26
23 Feb 2018	Ernest Kebenei (KEN)	2:19:53	Margaret Njuguna (KEN)	2:58:18
24 Feb 2017	Belete Mekonen (ETH)	2:12:12	Margaret Njuguna (KEN)	2:35:51
26 Feb 2016	William Yegon (KEN)	2:10:50	Lonah Chemtai (KEN)	2:40:16
27 Feb 2015	William Yegon (KEN)	2:10:30	Azeb Weldehawariat (ETH)	2:51:24
28 Feb 2014	Ezekiel Kiprop (KEN)	2:14:40	Margaret Njuguna (KEN)	2:44:23
2013	Was not held
30 Mar 2012	Samuel Tarus (KEN)	2:15:15	Abeba Tolla (ETH)	2:38:27
08 Apr 2011	Josphat Rono (KEN)	2:19:02	Worknesh Shashe (ETH)	2:40:35
14 May 2010	Avraham Hailemelkot (ISR)	2:49:34	Orna Blau (ISR)	3:13:30
24 Apr 2009	Daniel Kipchumba (KEN)	2:38:06	Orna Blau (ISR)	3:07:41
1995–2008	Was not held
15 Mar 1994	Gezahenge Birra (ETH)	2:19:37	Czesława Mentlewicz (POL)	2:40:44
15 Mar 1993	Aiduna Aitnafa (ETH)	2:21:37	Cinzia Allasia (ITA)	3:10:57
16 Mar 1992	Tumo Turbo (ETH)	2:14:56	Alina Magamedirova (RUS)	2:47:47
15 Apr 1991	Tsegaye Segne (ETH)	2:19:50	Loredana Ricci (ITA)	2:58:12
15 Mar 1990	Hannu Korkalainen (FIN)	2:30:32	Loredana Ricci (ITA)	3:20:12
16 Mar 1989	Osmiro Silva (BRA)	2:13:23*	Czesława Mentlewicz (POL)	2:53:18*
06 Mar 1988	Jean-Claude Louison (FRA)	2:22:21	Adriana Barbu (ROM)	2:44:03
19 Mar 1987	Michel Constant (FRA)	2:23:27	Erika Kruger (GER)	3:26:28
03 Mar 1986	Michel Schwind (FRA)	2:30:05	Elena Murgoci (ROM)	2:49:32
07 Mar 1985	Jean-Michel Charbonnel (FRA)	2:23:06	Lise Kristiansen (DEN)	3:01:27
19 Mar 1984	Gheorghe Sandu (ROM)	2:27:05	n/a	---
28 Mar 1983	n/a	---	n/a	---
09 Mar 1982	Yves Seigneuric (FRA)  Claude Minni (FRA)	2:26:56	Navah Ezra (ISR)	4:31:15
19 Mar 1981	Jean-Michel Charbonnel (FRA)	2:35:47	n/a	---

Notes: 1981 was the inaugural year. The course used for the 1989 race was 1,750 m too short, due to marking mistakes. https://arrs.run/HP_TelAvivMa.htm

Prize Money (ADR qualified runners)

Year	Men	Woman	Total
2012	$9,240	$5,600	$14,840
2011	8,710	8,710	17,420
2009	1,000	1,750	2,750
Sums	$18,950	$16,060	$35,010

Quality Performances

Men
<2:15	3
<2:16	3
<2:17	3
<2:18	6
<2:19	6
<2:20	11

Women
<2:40	1
<2:42	3
<2:44	3
<2:46	5
<2:4	8
<2:50	11

See also

• Jerusalem Marathon
• Tiberias Marathon
• Sports in Israel

References

1. "Tel Aviv Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
2. Press, Viva Sarah (2014-02-28). "40,000 run in Tel Aviv Marathon". Israel 21c. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
3. https://www.4sport-live.com/results/leaders/?event=3075&Roll=1&lan=E&clean=0
4. https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/germany/tobias-singer-324081
5. https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/russia/elena-tolstykh-516166
6. "General Info". Retrieved January 13, 2013.
7. "Run for it! The Tel Aviv Marathon returns in March 2013!". igoogledisrael.com. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
8. https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-one-dies-12-seriously-injured-in-ta-marathon-1.5234147
9. https://www.timesofisrael.com/fearing-coronavirus-tel-aviv-bans-foreigners-from-competing-in-city-marathon
10. http://thejewishvoice.com/2020/02/tel-aviv-marathon-bans-intl-runners-over-coronavirus-fears/
11. https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Lift-Tel-Aviv-Marathon-ban-and-promote-spirit-of-courage-618947
12. https://www.tlvmarathon.co.il/images/TlvMaraton/marathon_tlv_2020_website_eng_sliders10.jpg
13. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-to-let-foreign-runners-already-in-israel-compete-in-marathon

External links

• The first marathon runner wasn't Greek, he was Jewish