Othman El Comari wins the Hamburg Marathon

Kenyan runner Brillian Kipkoech set a new race record to win the women's category title in the Hamburg Marathon on Sunday, while Moroccan Othman El-Kumari won the men's title in the 40th edition of the race held in the coastal city located in northern Germany.

Kipkoech completed the race in a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 5 seconds, beating her previous personal best by nearly 7 minutes, and breaking the race record by 18 seconds. Her compatriot Rebecca Tanui, who was favored to win, came in second place, one minute and 20 seconds behind, and Kasanesh Ainyo came in third place, two minutes and 24 seconds behind Kipkewich, who succeeded in seizing the lead before the first 25 kilometers had passed.

In the men's category, the race witnessed closer competition until Othman Al-Komari took first place in the final stages, setting a new national record for Morocco with a time of two hours, four minutes and 24 seconds.

Samuel Fitwe, the former German record holder, came in second place after improving his personal record to two hours, four minutes and 45 seconds, giving Germany its first podium finish in this marathon since 1999, while Kenyan Kennedy Kimutai came third, an additional 11 seconds behind.