Kenyan and Serbian runners triumph at 30th Belgrade Marathon

Stephen Kipnegetich Katam from Kenya and Olivera Jevtic from Serbia are the winners of the 30th Belgrade Marathon that took place here on Saturday with 7,000 participants from 70 countries and regions.

Katam won the men's competition in 2 hours 21 minutes and 12 seconds, while Jevtic was the fastest in the women's competition with 2:38:03.

Katam was thus faster than second ranked Darko Zivanovic from Serbia (2:30:15) and third ranked Kennedy Kipruto Maiyo from Kenya (2:33:40), while behind Jevtic were two Serbian runners - Teodora Simonovic (2:41:47) and Natasa Culafic (3:02:41).

After winning the race Katam said that he enjoyed the race, and that he is satisfied with his result because the weather here was very cold on the day of the race.

"This race was fantastic. I think I can say that they organized this race well and I think I will come again to this race", Katam said.

The 40-year-old Jevtic pointed out that this victory is the first for her after two years, and presents a comeback after she taught she gave up on running marathons.

"I am very happy that I endured so many years, and that I achieved my third victory at the Belgrade Marathon. It was really hard because I set too fast pace in the first part of the track, and passed the half of the marathon after 1 hour and 16 minutes together with Teodora Simonovic. This gave me the wings to run faster than I planned and expected," Jevtic said.

Organizers stated that more than 20,000 people participated in the 5-kilometer-long fun run.

The marathon and half-marathon races were opened this morning in the center of Belgrade mayor Sinisa Mali and seven retired stars of the international athletics, Bob Beamon, Mike Powel, Kevin Young, Rosa Mota, Lase Viren, Galina Chistyakova and Javier Sotomayor. Endit