RIGA, Latvia, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The annual Lattelecom Riga Marathon gathered a record number of runners and saw Ethiopian runner Tsedat Abeje Ayana set a new course record on Sunday.
Over 37,600 participants, including amateur runners and elite athletes from 78 countries and regions, competed in the classical marathon and half-marathon distances, as well as several satellite races, said race director Aigars Nords. Over 2,000 runners had registered for the distance of 42.19 kilometers.
This year's event, also dubbed the Centenary Marathon in honor of the centennial of Latvia, will be the Riga Marathon's application to the world's top 30 -- the IAAF Gold Label as the most recognized international marathon in the Baltic countries.
Leading the strong field of elite male runners, Ayana reached the finish line after two hours and 11 minutes, clocking a new course record and beating runner-up Silas Kiprono Too of Kenya, who finished 13 second behind the winner.
Joseph Kyengo Munywoki of Kenya, the winner of last year's race, was third at this year's competition.
Kenya's Georgina Jepkirui Rono won the women's competition, finishing in 2:28:21. Ethiopian athlete Tigist Teshome Ayanu came second, more than four minutes behind the winner, and Kenyan runner Pauline Nujeri Kahenya took the bronze.
