Competitors take part in the annual Beirut Marathon, in the Lebanese capital, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
BEIRUT — After having been suspended in 2019 due to the Oct. 17 nationwide protests and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut Marathon kicked off on Sunday morning as thousands of men and women competed in its various races. Last year, the marathon was held outside the IAAF Road Race Label Events international circuit.
According to a statement from the Beirut Marathon Association, 12,000 male and female runners from 60 countries participated in the event on Sunday.
Young people dressed in traditional costumes encourage runners taking part in the annual Beirut Marathon, in the Lebanese capital, on Nov. 13, 2022. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
In the men's 42km race, Lebanese runner Saleh Zeaiter finished in first place (2h 37min and 57 seconds), while Bilal Awada, from the Lebanese Army placed second (2h 41min and 00 seconds) and Daoud Moustapha came in third (2h 42min and 51 seconds). In the Women's 42km category, Chirine Njeim won the 42km women's race (3h 44min and 2 seconds). Following Njeim, Kathia Rached (3h 11min and 48 seconds) and Nada Rizk (3h 12min and 93 seconds) respectively took second and third place.
The 42km international men’s category race was won by Ethiopian Mitku Dekeba (2h 14min and 21 seconds), who however failed to break the record of 2h 10min and 10 seconds set in 2017 by Ethiopian Dominique Roto and Moroccan Mohammad el-Arabi. Ethiopia's Muletaa Felate came in second (2h 21min and 28 seconds), and Kenya's Benjamin Malot third (2h 30min and 35 seconds). As for women's international 42km race, Ethiopian Mulugojiam won first place; Kenyan Sheila Kiplagat finished second; and Ethiopian Lelse Bero took third.
The men's 21.1km race was won by Lebanese Nader Jaber with Reving Rashid coming second and Mohammad Kdoush finishing third. First place in the women's 21.1km race went to Nesrine Njeim, while second place went to Pia Makhoul and third to Maissa Chirazi.
The men's 10km race was won by Zayd al-Sayed, with Peter Khoury coming second and Omar Abou Hamad coming third. Bryony (only identified by her first name) won the women's 10km category, while Joan Makary took second place and Loaa Zaarour took third.
The Beirut Marathon was created in 2003 by May el-Khalil, who was the victim of a serious accident in 2001 that prevents her from competing. The race has been part of the international circuit of IAAF Road Race Label Events since 2014 in the “Bronze Label" category.
CORRECTION: This article was corrected on November 13 at 7:33 pm. We originally mentioned that the marathon had not been held since 2019. After being suspended in 2019 and 2020, however, it did take place last year, but outside the international IAAF Road Race Label Events circuit.
