Muteti reached the second best time ever in Vienna and won ahead of his compatriot Leonard Langat (2:06:59) and favorite Oqbe Kibrom (2:07:25) from Eritrea. The 30-year-old was 1:12 minutes less than the course record set by Getu Feleke in 2014. “I am happy for my best time, but also for the organizer. It is a great achievement. I did not expect to make a 2:06. But I have always listened to my body and I felt that I could do it “, said Muteti, who underlined his personal best with 1:52 minutes in an interview for ORF.
With pleasant temperatures, the best Austrian was Lemawork Ketema, who crossed the finish line in 13th place after a time of 2:15:41 hours. However, Ketema clearly missed the EM limit of 2:14:30 hours that he intended. “It was not my day,” said one disappointed Ketema. Andreas Vojta finished the first marathon in 19th place (+ 8:49). Timon Theuer fell to the eighth mile and had to retreat later with a thigh injury.
Federal President Van der Bellen gave the approval
Following cancellation in 2020 due to coronavirus and relapse in September 2021, the event took place again as usual on the spring date in April. At 8:58 a.m., federal President Alexander Van der Bellen signaled the departure on the Wagramer Straße. “I would like to experience the beginning, this tension and nervous concentration in the country,” Van der Bellen said in an interview with ORF. In a short speech to the participants, he wanted to “distribute energy throughout the world.”
Muteti still eavesdrops on his favorite Kibrom
In any case, the surprisingly large steering group was full of energy, the main Austrian runners around Ketema and Theuer were organized directly into a follow-up group. The 17-man elite, backed for the first time in Vienna by a live-time division screen mounted on a support vehicle, had a promising lap time of 29:57 minutes after ten kilometers.
The time 1:03:21 for the half marathon set by the pacemakers on the asphalt was still on schedule for the target course record. But in the second half of the race over 42,195 km, strong winds made the mission difficult. At 30 km Kibrom launched an attack, ran alone in the lead for a while and already looked like the sure winner. But Mutati shared his energy better, took the lead four kilometers ahead and never let his triumph be stolen.
Austrian Bauernfeind wins half marathon
After 2019, the Austrian Mario Bauernfeind secured victory again in the half marathon with the best personal 1:05:35. The 31-year-old prevailed over marathon record holder Peter Herzog, who bounced back after a six-second injury break. “When you win like that in your city, it’s crazy and incredible, of course,” said Bauernfeind. Britain’s Victoria Kenny (1:16:16) was the fastest among women.