Sawt Falasteen - Crippa and record-breaking Demise claim Paris marathon victories

The Ethiopian-born Crippa, 29, clocked a personal best of 2hr 05min 19sec for the win in the French capital.

Bayelign Teshager of Ethiopia finished second, just five seconds off Crippa, with Kenya's Sila Kiptoo rounding off the podium (2:05:29).

"I'm very, very happy," said Crippa.

"At the 34km mark, I felt it was my day. When I saw the others were beginning to tire, I pulled away."

The women's race saw 30-year-old Demise smash the course record by more than a minute.

She won in 2:18:34 ahead of compatriot Misgane Alemayehu (2:19:08) and Kenya's Magdalyne Masai (2:19:17).

The previous best of 2:19:48 was set in 2022 by Kenyan Judith Jeptum Korir.

"I didn't have any information during the race about the record," said Demise.

"When I came into the finish area and they gave me the sign, I understood. It's incredible."

The marathon featured more than 60,000 runners, including 20,800 women, also a record for the Paris race.

G.AbuOdeh--SF-PST