An atypical Tokyo marathon for the coronavirus: barely 300 athletes, many chins and almost no audience

03/01/2020 - 5:53

• Clarín.com
• sports

Ethiopian runner Birhanu Legese and Israeli-born Kenyan Lohan Chemtai were awarded this year's Tokyo marathon , which was restricted in public and in participants by extraordinary measures applied because of the new coronavirus in Japan.

Until the last minute the celebration of this marathon was in the air due to official measures set to prevent the extension of COVID-19 in Japan, where it already affects more than a thousand people with a dozen dead.

The Japanese pi authorities gave in recent days that massive sports and cultural events are canceled or postponed. For example, the matches of the three divisions of Japanese football were postponed and the spring sumo tournament will be held without spectators, to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Ethiopian Birhanu Legese (center) won the Tokyo Marathon in the men's event. (EFE)

The organizers of the marathon, however, chose to continue with the test, one of the Majors of the 42,195 kilometers. But they prevented the participation of about 38,000 amateur runners and limited the call to about 300 athletes in all categories (male, female, male wheelchair and female wheelchair).

Despite the request of the organizers, hundreds of Japanese were summoned to follow the Tokyo marathon. (AP / Shuji Kajiyama)

In 2019, 37,952 people ran, of all ages, conditions and places in the world. Compared to last year, the start was deserted much faster this time and there was much more space between the runners . Chinstraps , in participants and collaborators, were another distinctive postcard this Sunday.

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (center) is assisted by staff from the organization after winning the Tokyo marathon. (EFE)

The organizers also asked the public to avoid following the race . Even so, during the tour many spectators could be seen who encouraged the passage of the runners, enjoying the sporting event and a sunny morning.

The Tokyo marathon was restricted to 300 elite athletes, due to the coronavirus epidemic. (AFP)

Along the way, the banners of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were present. Despite the complications of recent weeks, the International Olympic Committee declared itself "absolutely determined to move forward" with the appointment. The Olympics they will take place in the Japanese capital between July 24 and August 9.

In this context, Legese, 25, completed the men's test in 2h04m15s, about three minutes from the Kenyan world record Eliud Kipchoge and two minutes from his personal record (2h02m48s), a mark that last year allowed him to win Gold in the Japanese capital.

The flags and posters for the 2020 Olympic Games were present in a decimated Tokyo marathon. (AP)

Behind the Ethiopian was the Belgian runner of Somali origin Bashir Abdi, 31, 34 seconds behind the winner, and third place went to the Ethiopian Sisay Lemma, 39, at 36 seconds.

The organizers prevented 38,000 amateur athletes from running the Tokyo marathon. Due to the coronavirus, there was only room for about 300 athletes. (AFP)

Legese and Lemma started off as favorites, and in fact from kilometer 30 they had been occupying two of the first three positions of the race played by the Japanese capital.

Police officers wear chins while guarding the Tokyo marathon, affected by the coronavirus epidemic. (AFP)

In women the gold went to the Israeli runner of Kenyan origin Lonah Chemtai, 31, who made a time of 2h17m45s, more than three minutes from the current world record, which since last year keeps Kenyan Brigid Kosgei.

A runner travels in the Tokyo marathon with a chinstrap, amid the precautionary measures for the coronavirus. (REUTERS)

Chemtai, who reached the goal wearing a wide smile, was followed by Ethiopian Birhane Dibaba, 26, at 50 seconds, and the bronze medal went to the Ethiopian Sutume Asefa, 25, at 2m45s from the winner .

With EFE information