Zurich Marathon 2017: Tonui and Nunes win

With 9,452 registered runners, the organizers were able to record only slightly fewer participants this year than in last year's record year. The participants came from no fewer than 87 countries. In addition, all Swiss cantons were represented - and a wide variety of generations: The youngest is 11 years old and the oldest runner is 81. Almost three quarters of all individual runners were men (3,351). 1,559 women were at the start of the marathon and city run. In addition, 4,402 runners took part in the team run. Thus, early on Sunday morning, a total of 8,708 runners set off on the various courses - whether marathon, team run or city run over 9.85 kilometers. A total of 8,569 runners were classified, while 139 dropped out of the race early.

Vincent Tonui victorious in marathon debut
In addition to numerous attractions along the course, the audience was treated to exciting running in the elite races. The elite, consisting mostly of Kenyans, set a brisk pace from the start. Shortly after the half marathon mark, a quartet broke away from the lead group. Samuel Karani, Vincent Tonui, Patrick Ereng and Edwin Korir passed the 25-kilometer mark still in step. After three quarters of the run, Vincent Tonui and Edwin Korir broke away from the quartet. Tonui picked up the pace again around six kilometers from the finish and pulled clear. Korir, on the other hand, dropped back to fourth place. The Kenyan Vincent Tonui won the men's race. In his first competitive marathon, he set a strong time of 2:12.57.5. "I am very happy with my performance. I gave my best and I am very grateful," Tonui said after the race. Two other Kenyans, Patrick Ereng and Samuel Karani, rounded out the podium. Karani had to let Ereng overtake him on the home stretch, completely exhausted. Best Swiss was Armin Flückiger (Rapperswil/SG) on sixth place. With 2:24.36,2 he set a new personal best. "It was a super race. The conditions were ideal and the crowd was also great. I was very well prepared and the weather forecast made me confident that I can show a good performance here."

Vera Nunes winner in the women's race
In the women's race, Portugal's Vera Nunes won with a time of 2:34.17,5, improving her personal best by over three minutes. The SL Benfica runner started rather defensively and thus divided the race ideally. "I am very happy about the victory and about my new personal best. I trained hard and today was a perfect day for such a race," Nunes said. The Swiss favorite, Michèle Gantner (Flums/SG), had to give up at kilometer 37 with stomach problems. Best Swiss was Franziska Inauen (Windisch/AG) on rank 3 in 2:56.18,6.

Ranking list

 Zurich Marathon Men
1st Vincent Tonui, Kenya, 2:12.57.6
2nd Patrick Ereng, Kenya, 2:16.47.1
3rd Samuel Karani, Kenya, 2:16.51.0
…
6th Armin Flückiger, Rapperswil/SG, 2:24.36,2

Zurich Marathon Women
1st Vera Nunes, Portugal, 2:34.17.5
2nd Ivy Chepkok, Kenya, 2:52.17.0
3rd Franziska Inauen, Windisch/AG, 2:56.18,6

Team run
1st TV Oerlikon, 2:23.08.2
2nd Team TV Oerlikon Mixed, 2:39.09,1
3rd Detecon's Honey Badgers, 2:42.42.4

Cityrun, men
1st Fikru Abera, Winterthur/ZH, 30.14,5
2nd Christian Mathys, Bülach/ZH, 31.48,6
3rd Martin Rosser, Dürnten/ZH, 33.21,9

Cityrun, women
1st Samira Schnüriger, Einsiedeln/SZ, 36.56,5
2nd Fiammetta Troxler, Zurich/ZH, 37.05,3
3rd Raja Aellig-Urner, Uster/ZH, 37.06,2