BUDAPEST: Sunday’s 40th Budapest Marathon set a new record, drawing more than 40,000 participants from 119 countries and regions, organisers announced, reported Xinhua.
“This year’s event is the largest mass sports gathering ever held in Hungary,” said chief organiser Arpad Kocsis.
He said 9,000 participants travelled from abroad, with 9,352 runners completing the official results list.
“Budapest has truly joined the ranks of Europe’s running capitals,” he added.
In the men’s race, Hungarian runners claimed the top two positions as Mate Vasarhelyi won the title in two hours, 22 minutes and 17 seconds, followed by Bence Vitarius at 2:27:37. Poland’s Jakub Galasiewicz finished third at 2:34:16.
In the women’s event, Hungary’s Viktoria Nyikos took victory in 2:50:28. Caoimhe Nic Fhogartaigh of Ireland came second in 2:53:38, followed by Hungary’s Reka Kormendi at 2:55:34.
The anniversary event included several memorable moments, among them World and European paratriathlon champion Peter Boronkay completing the full 42.2 kilometres alongside his disabled friend, Andras Nagy, whom he pushed in a specially designed racing wheelchair along the Danube, across the Chain Bridge, and past landmarks such as Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament.
Firefighters Tibor Borbas and Elek Keller completed the marathon wearing 15 kilogrammes of protective gear, while the oldest participant was 81-year-old local Ferenc Kis. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
