Zurich Maraton de Sevilla 2017, on its way to beat all records on Sunday

The 32nd edition of the “Zurich Maraton de Sevilla”, which takes place on Sunday 19th of February, has announced officially its latest news for an emblematic edition in which it is hoped to beat all kind of records: participation, more than ever participants registered up for now, even a high-quality group of athletes running to achieve the victory in the flattest course route of Europe. Only 4 days left for the big event to celebrate and there are designated 13,700 bib numbers, and prediction says that there will be 1000 more participants than in 2016.

In the strive for the win there is a large group of African elite athletes who are ready to try to reduce the current record time of the course achieved by the Kenyan Cosmas Kiplimo Lagat (2h08:14) last edition. In the list of main candidates for the victory is written the name of an athlete who comes to Seville to performe his best, the Kenyan Nicholas Kipkemboi, born in 1986, who has run in 2h06:33 at Dubai Marathon and he has a register of 1h00:11 in half marathon. On a second step, according to race times is the Ethiopian athlete Tebalu Zawude Heyi (27’20 in 10,000m and 2h07:10 in marathon), then another Kenyan, Nicson Kurgat, 2h07:11, who is very used to competing in Europe. The Italian athlete Stefano La Rosa aspires to be the first European at the finish line, he has previously run at a time of 2h11:11. Keep an eye on the debutant athletes of the distance: Kipkosgei Bowen (Kenya, 1h01:55), Tulu Wami (Ethiopia, 1h01:11), or the Kenyan Kipchumba and the Ethiopia Fentaw,both run 1h02 in half marathon.

In women, the awaited return to Seville of the current Spanish champion: from Cantabria Paula González Berodia, who is going to deal with the Moroccan Kaoutar Boulaid, last year she finished a step behind Paula. The Champion has affirmed that she has an ambitious goal: being below 2h30. Women favourites, apart from the battle González-Boulaid, are the Ethiopian athlete Tizita Terecha Dida, from year 1992 who has achieved the victory in three marathons. Guangzou (China), Mainz (Germany) and Nantes (France) and her personal best is 2h28:02 in 2015. In October 2016, she finished at a time of 2h31:45 in Ljubljana. There are confirmed more women with registers below 2h30 (Lemelem Berha Yachem, Bekelech Daba Bedada…). Another European athlete who has options for the win is the British Lily Partridge (1h10 in half marathon) and the Moroccan who lives in Spain Salima Charki. More Spanish women athletes are Elena Loyo, who is going to make her début but she was already in second place in the Spanish Championships of Half Marathon and Aroa Merino from Canary Island, number 7 last year (2h36).

Among the 13,700 until-now participants, some absolutely historical records have been beaten: more than 3,800 participants from Seville, almost 3,000 foreign participants (20,41%) and more than 1,600 participants are women (11,82%). Runners, who come from the five continents, 77 different countries, this means another new landmark.

Six athletes who has completed every edition of Seville race (Luis Caballero Jurado, Elías Chavete Barroso, Antonio Gelo Colón, Antonio González Benítez, Julio Manuel Molina Castellano and Eduardo Silva Proenza) has been awarded by David Guevara, sports representative of Seville Town hall and Rodrigo Gavela, Chief Executive of Zurich Marathon of Seville, with a lifelong bib number for all the next editions of the race. From the first edition in 1985, the six athletes, four from Seville, one from Cadiz and another from Extremadura, have crossed the finish line year after year. Among other news, the official medal has been launched including “el Giraldillo” within its spectacular design, and technique improvements such as an optional course route already officially authorised, in case for security reasons the race could not go through Park María Luisa because of strong rain or wind.

LIVE STREAMING, SIDE EVENTS, IAAF SILVER LABEL, TOP EVENT …

Zurich Marathon of Seville 2017 has moved forward from Bronze Label by IAAF to Silver Label and the improvement to reach the world top in route races is about to come. One more time the event receives a top qualification from the European Athletics Association and holds the second place in the national ranking of marathons, ahead of Barcelona and Madrid by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation. The race is on the process to be known worldwide, but always keeping the essence of the four last editions about the absolutely fast and flat circuit route (the flattest in Europe) that goes through the city centre and the main monuments.

In the last your years, Zurich Marathon of Seville has completely transformed its course route: the flattest in Europe perfectly suitable for achieving personal best. The course route passes by the main monuments of the city and the historic centre, and the event has obtained more public support to offer the best care to participants. In 2017, the race offers the best service of tracking-live timing and it is going to be on live streaming (live video at the official web page) and live broadcast in a national television channel MEGA during more than 3 hours.

Thanks to the great organization of last years, the location of the cloakroom at La Cartuja Stadium, puerta N (N Entrance door) will be the same. In addition, photography contest is again scheduled and there will be more recreation points with music bands during the race course.

About side events, the runners Expo is located in Fibes Sevilla to preserve the huge growth and diffusion, and in fact for the weekend there are organized activities, such as races, to promote athletics among children. Friday and Saturday (17th and 18 of February) from 10h to 20h.