In the women’s elite field, a high pace was set from the start, and here Rodah Chepkorir Tanui only needed 2:23.14 hours to reach the finish line on a sunny Øster Allé. It was not just a new race record, but also the fastest marathon time of a woman on Danish soil ever.

“I am not surprised that I was able to run so fast today. I had prepared well for the race and the pace setter did an excellent job. So everything was perfect today, even if it got a little too hot in the last kilometers,” said Tanui, who eventually improved a four-year-old personal best.

With a finishing time of 2:09.12 hours, the first man across the finish line, 36-year-old Solomon Kirwa, missed the race record by a paltry 49 seconds. However, it was enough to secure him the victory, with a small lead of half a minute down to compatriot Kenneth Keter.

Aarhusian double triumph
In the inpatient DM contest, Karen Ehrenreich had no problems defending her title. The 38-year-old Aarhus 1900 runner thus delivered the fastest winning time at a DM since 2003: 2:35.02 hours.

“Under the circumstances, I’m quite satisfied, because it was hot out there today. I pushed too hard in today’s conditions, so the last 21 was tough. But I came in at a reasonable time, and I’m satisfied with that,” says Karen Ehrenreich.

For the men, Jacob Sommer Simonsen fought his way to the gold with a time of 2:14.46 hours and an overall 9th place. The AGF runner made a particularly strong start.

“My plan was to run 2:12 hours. It went really well at the start, but turned out to be legitimately optimistic in the hot weather. I had a crisis at 27 km, but after all I am satisfied with the victory,” says the runner, who will make an ambitious attempt to make it to the Olympics at the Valencia Marathon in December.

Copenhagen Marathon – results

Women
1. Rodah Chepkorir Tanui, Kenya 2:23.14 – race record
2. Valentina Mateiko, Kenya 2:25.05
3. Philippa Bowden, Great Britain 2:29.16
9. Karen Ehrenreich, Aarhus 1900 2:35.02 – Danish Championship gold
15. Stine Schønning, NBRO RC 2:45.10 – Danish Championship silver
17. Kamilla Sofie Vallin, VO2RC 2:46.47 – Danish Championship bronze

Men
1. Solomon Kirwa, Kenya 2:09.12
2. Kenneth Keter, Kenya 2:09.41
3. Edwin Kiptoo, Kenya 2:09.51
8. Omar Hassan, AGF 2:14.21 (not eligible for Danish Championship start)
9. Jacob Sommer Simonsen, AGF 2:14.46 – Danish Championship gold
13. Rune Bækgaard, AGF2:18.54 – Danish Championship silver
16. Mark Olsen, Hechmann RC 2:19.44 – Danish Championship bronze