Poland – The fourth edition of the National Running Day – 2016 ORLEN Warsaw Marathon has drawn to a close. After a stiff rivalry, Artur Kozłowski emerged as the first Pole to win the Marathon with an excellent time of 2:11:54.
Another outstanding Polish marathon runner, Henryk Szost, finished second, with a time of 2:12:40. Both runners have thus qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
On a Sunday morning, Warsaw’s Wybrzeże Szczecińskie Street was really busy: nearly 20 thousand people have registered to take part in ORLEN Warsaw Marathon and the OSHEE 10 km run. At 8:45 sharp, ORLEN Warsaw Marathon runners set off to the south, and the runners competing at the 10 km distance set off in the direction of the Saska Kępa district, forming an image of the Polish flag.
Results
As in previous years, the strongest sporting emotions accompanied the elite marathon runners reaching the finish line. The competition took place in challenging conditions. Low temperature and strong winds made the competition difficult for both elite and amateur runners. Artur Kozlowski, a Pole, won the fierce fight in great style, with a time of 2:11:54, and earned the title of Polish Men’s Marathon Champion. Henryk Szost, who completed the marathon with a time of 2:12:40, was second to reach the finish line. Thus, the two Polish marathon runners have qualified for the Olympics.
Among women who took part in the marathon, Kumeshi Sichala with a time of 2:28:42 proved to be unbeatable. The fastest runner in the handbike category was Rafał Wilk who covered the distance of 20,500 kilometres in a time of 0:31:49.
Orlen Warsaw Marathon
‘ORLEN Warsaw Marathon is a great rehearsal for me before the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro’ – said Henryk Szost, Polish marathon vice champion and member of the ORLEN Sport Group. I think that I confirmed my good condition because the second place is a great success. I’d like to congratulate Arthur who put up a hard fight and definitely deserves to go to Rio.
The OSHEE 10 km run was equally exciting with a route that, for the first time in the event’s history, ran through Warsaw’s Saska Kępa district. In the popular 10-km run category, Daniel Muindi Muteti from Kenya was the fastest 10-km runner (0:28:53), and among Poles – Szymon Kulka, with a time of 0:29:47. The fastest female runner was Nina Savina from Belarus (0:32:59), and among Polish women – Dominika Napieraj (0:32:59).
Saturday runs
One day before the main competition, a ‘Dar Serca’ [Gift of the Heart] Charity Walk-Run took place which, this time, was held in Skaryszewski Park. As during the previous edition of ORLEN Warsaw Marathon, each person’s participation fee amounting to PLN 10 will be donated by PKN ORLEN to children from family-run orphanages. Each of the participants had also the opportunity to donate any amount to the ‘ORLEN – DAR SERCA [Gift of the Heart] Foundation which will be earmarked entirely for charity. Before the Walk-Run, runs for 4th and 6th graders and for Secondary School children were organised under the motto of ‘Athletics for Everyone’, under the auspices of the Polish Athletics Association.
Not just running
ORLEN Warsaw Marathon is not only a big day for runners, but also for their fans who turn out in droves to support their idols. This year, 21 amateur bands taking part in the ORLEN Marathon Jam Session project played in support of the runners.
During this year’s edition, Warsaw’s major cultural institutions have prepared a special offer for this year’s runners and their families as part of the ‘Run for Culture’ project. Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, National Museum in Warsaw, Museum of King John III’s Palace at Wilanów, Museum of Sports and Tourism, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and the Royal Castle in Warsaw could be visited for free or at a symbolic price of 1 zloty.
ORLEN Warsaw Marathon is an event that has quickly caught up with the leading marathons in Europe in terms of organisation. This claim is backed up by thousands of positive opinions of the participants themselves and prestigious awards such as IAAF Silver Label (IAAF is the International Association of Athletics Federations). In addition, the ORLEN Warsaw Marathon has also been entered in the official calendar of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
For more information concerning this event see: www.orlenmarathon.pl
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