The course record was followed by a travel marathon

It was thanks to many hard-working elves in the background that on Sunday at 5.30 p.m. on the main square there was hardly anything left to remind of the big running festival. On the day after the 21st Linz Donau Marathon yesterday, the organization was already looking ahead, while women’s winner Teclah Chebet, who set the course record in 2:27:18 hours, flew off with the prize in her luggage.

• Added value: With the biggest win of her career so far, the Kenyan earned a good mileage allowance thanks to an additional record. “She has endured a lot of deprivation over the last few months so that she could become even stronger,” says her German coach Michael Kraus.
• Good bye: The German participants, men’s winner Simon Boch and his Regensburg club colleague, women’s runner-up Domenika Mayer were impressed by Linz. “I really liked the atmosphere here, I would love to come back,” said Mayer. Postscript: “Maybe I’ll succeed in winning.”
• travel marathon: Chebet and the rest of the Kenyan delegation had to compete yesterday. A shuttle left Linz at ten o’clock, then there was a 14-hour flight home.
• Pronunciation: In the men’s relay competition, there was a dispute between the race organizers and Dominik Jandl, the member of the Fitmacher quartet that later won, because running in the elite men’s field is not permitted for reasons of the regulations. Already at the finish there was a discussion. “We have put our positions on the table,” said Weidlinger.
• Pacemaker: The well-known Berlin athletes manager Christoph Kopp could not come to Linz this time for health reasons. He sent congratulations to the organizers from the hospital.
• Happy: Austria’s marathon record holder Peter Herzog was satisfied with his performance in the relay. “Actually, I didn’t want to run that fast,” said Salzburger, who was recently ill. Linz gave him confidence for the fall. Then he wants to run the Olympic limit for Paris 2024.
• Organization: The organizers received praise from many quarters, this time even from Australia. Quarter marathon winner Vanessa Wilson had traveled to Upper Austria’s capital with her family and used the detour for a run. “It was sporty sightseeing, I like Linz,” said Wilson.
• Next appointment: Runners should write the date in bold on their calendars. The 22nd edition is scheduled for April 7, 2024.

Chebet won Boston

Kenyan Evans Chebet repeated last year’s victory in the marathon in Boston yesterday in 2:05:54 hours, beating top star and compatriot Eliud Kipchoge, who finished sixth in the classic of classics. The women’s race was won by marathon debutant Hellen Obiri (Ken) in 2:21:38 hours.