Ethiopian Tsegaw dominates women’s field at Malaga Marathon

Ethiopia’s Selamawit Getnet Tsegaw dominated the women’s race to win in 2:27:56 at the Malaga Marathon, a World Athletics bronze label race, on Sunday.

Spain’s Roger Roca dictated the rhythm in the women’s race closely followed by the main favourites, the Ethiopian tandem of Getnet and Gelane Senbete.

Running at a steady 3:30/km speed they covered the opening 10 and 15km in 35:10 and 52:40 while their compatriot Alemitu Abera and Kenya’s Rebecca Korir travelled together 20 seconds behind.

The leading tandem was timed at 1:13:54 by halfway, a massive two minutes ahead of the race record schedule. Shortly afterwards Senbete proved unable to maintain that pace, leaving Getnet alone with Roca, who covered each one-kilometre split in 3:30.

The pacemaker dropped in the 35th kilometre, but that was no barrier for Getnet to keep her speed through the finish. Fellow Ethiopian Senbete timed 2:32:28 while further back Korir completed the podium in 2:36:50.

“The wind made the race quite tough but the pacemaker was superb and I got a new PB [Personal Best] and also a race record by a huge margin so I can’t ask for more,” Getnet said.

Women’s results

1. Selamwit Getnet (ETH) 2:27:56

2. Gelane Senbete (ETH) 2:32:28

3. Rebecca Korir (KEN) 2:36:50

4. Rebecca Hilland (GBR) 2:40:27

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