Koech of Kenya wins Tel Aviv Marathon in record time for race

Around 40,000 take part in various events of race that closes down most of central Tel Aviv; MDA treats 85 runners.

By BEN HARTMAN
Winners of the 2014 Tel Aviv Marathon (photo credit: RONEN TOPELBERG)
Winners of the 2014 Tel Aviv Marathon
(photo credit: RONEN TOPELBERG)
 
Road closures and police reinforcements were deployed across the city on Friday for Tel Aviv’s annual marathon.
Ezekiel Koech of Kenya won the race in a course record time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds, with Keter Emmanuel Triop of Kenya taking second place and Sammy Limo also of Kenya coming in third.
Margaret Mjugna of Kenya was the winner on the women’s side clocking in at 2:44:20h.
An estimated 40,000 people took part in the marathon’s various races, while an estimated 150,000 spectators stood by watching, according to the city.
Magen David Adom paramedics along with nurses and doctors from Ichilov Hospital treated 85 marathon participants.
Most of those treated suffered minor injuries but seven runners suffered moderate injuries related to heat exhaustion and one runner was hospitalized in serious condition, also due to heat exhaustion.
Only the runner in serious condition was not conscious, MDA said.
Last March, a 29-year-old man died and dozens more were hospitalized with heat stroke and dehydration while running the half marathon in Tel Aviv. The run took place on a day that saw unseasonably hot weather for that time of the year, and the death of Maj. (res.) Michael Michaelovich led the city to cancel the full marathon which was to be held a week later.
Like in past years, the marathon saw most of central Tel Aviv closed off to traffic from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to the full marathon, a half marathon, a 10 km. run, a kids’ run, and a disabled persons’ race were also held.