2:06:13 – with the new record time in Linz, there was only one moment of shock

And suddenly yesterday at 10.43 a.m. at the “20th Oberbank Linz Donau Marathon” it was dead quiet in the lead car. Race manager Günther Weidlinger jumped out of the Hyundai Nexo at the turning point on Union-Strasse. The ex-Olympic participant put on a splendid sprint and removed one of the barrier tapes that had accidentally been attached incorrectly. So the field with the elite runners could turn to the right place and didn’t have to cover 40 extra meters. All’s well that ends well. The Ethiopian Fikre Bekele then successfully completed the “course record mission”, breaking the 15-year record of 2:07:33 in 2:06:13 hours, thereby setting the highlight of the anniversary. The OÖN also experienced all the important key moments of the record run from the back seat.

Start according to plan: Berlin’s Christoph Kopp, who was primarily responsible for the elite field for the first time this year, took a seat in the Hyundai on the motorway bridge, while his son Philipp was the extended arm of the “marathon conductor” on an electric scooter. And the first phase went satisfactorily for the boss, who was armed with a stopwatch and played a key role in the Berlin marathon for many years. Bekele and his dozen other running companions from Africa unwound the kilometers exactly according to plan and often under three minutes. “We’re currently on course, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean anything,” Kopp reminded the passengers as they drove past the Brucknerhaus just before ten kilometers.

Runaway: The fact that the speed remained high was initially not only to blame for the pacemakers, some of whom had already worked for world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, but also for the German Filmon Teklebrhan. The later half marathon winner made off at kilometer 13 and ran in front of the elite field.

cold shock: Weidlinger rarely left his workplace outdoors, perched on the passenger door. “The race is hot, but I’m still freezing cold,” remarked the Innviertler. The news at kilometer 20 was also not very warming for him. At that point, pacemaker Boniface Kimutai had to get out, and Weidlinger’s wife Eveline took him to the hospital for further clarification with a pricked heart.

Hot phase: The leading group completed the half marathon in 63:20 minutes. But as the past has taught us, the Linz marathon really begins in the Wasserwald. Premiere guest Kopp knows that too, and he’s also slowly becoming noticeably more nervous. Because although the now ten-strong group continued to work together homogeneously and had a steadfast front runner in Titus Kimutai, who moved up to 35 kilometers, he let his son Philipp know over the phone: “You mustn’t let up now.”

Attack: But a little later the sun finally appeared in foggy Linz. And that’s not the only reason why there was euphoria in the car again. Because Bekele and Co continued to push, Weidlinger even calculated a target time of well under 2:07 hours. The Moroccan Olympic ninth in 2020, Othmane El Goumri, Kopp’s personal favourite, increased the pace again at kilometer 38. But a little later it was Bekele who took the lead. “How fast they are,” exclaimed one of the many half-marathon participants who willingly gave way to the elite on the (faster) way to the finish.

Relief: Weidlinger’s face also brightened. “At kilometer 40 I dare to say the word course record for the first time,” said Austria’s former marathon record holder. It had long been clear that this time, after so many unsuccessful attempts, it would finally work. Bekele then ran to thunderous applause in the main square in 2:06:13, closely followed by his last remaining opponent, Kenyan Bethwel Chumba (2:06:23) and third-placed Douglas Chebii (2:06:27).

Special congratulations: Everyone involved in the record run had smiling faces. And the former Linz OC boss Ewald Tröbinger received a special message on his cell phone. The Ukrainian Alexander Kuzin, who was responsible for the 2:07.33 in Linz in 2007, sent hearty congratulations to Sieger Bekele from the war zone in his home country. Another nice sign on this marathon day that went so perfectly.