On Sunday, October 22, 2023 in Italy, long-distance runner Solomon Munyo Mutai of Uganda successfully defended his Wizz Air Venice Marathon gold crossing the finish line in Riva Sette Martiri with a new record.
Mutai won the field with a time of 2:07:40, beating his previous best of 2:08:10 and establishing a new competition record.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Naibei settled for silver, just like the previous year, with 2:07:41 after being outsprinted to the finishing line.
Another Kenyan, Noah Kipkemboi Kiprotich, scooped bronze with a time of 2:08:17.
In the women’s race, Kenyan Rebecca Tanui won gold with a time of 2:25:34, ahead of Ethiopia’s Chala Kebene, who finished with a time of 2:26:37.
Another Ethiopian athlete, Tigist Bedada, took bronze with a time of 2:28:05.
With Mutai’s encore, Uganda achieves its second success in the Venice marathon roll of honour for nations, while Tanui’s success brings Kenya’s victories in the women’s field to 15.
This was the 37th edition of the Wizz Air Venice marathon, full of emotions, records, personal bests, and entertainment.
The Venice Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Ranking, and it is worldwide recognised, with a Bronze Label certificated by the IAAF and a Gold Label by FIDAL.