Army runners secure top two positions in Everest Marathon

KATHMANDU, Oct 5: Athletes of Nepal Army secured the top two positions in the open category of the 13th Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon held in the Everest region on Monday. Army man Bhim Gurung finished first followed by his teammate Surendra Basnet while Pasang Lama of Lukla Friendship Club secured the third position.

Bhim clocked 4 hours 1 minute and 54 seconds to bag a purse of Rs 100,000. His colleague Surendra completed the distance of 42.195 km in 4 hours 3 minutes 18 seconds while Pasang clocked 4 hours 11 minutes and 28 seconds. The second and third place finishers bagged Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

After securing victory in one of the toughest marathons of the world, Bhim said, "Race at this altitude is very difficult and I am happy to secure the top finish."

The event is the highest-altitude marathon of the world which begins from the Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters above the sea level and finishes at Namche Bazar at an elevation of 3,446 meters.

Robert Celinski of Poland clocked 4 hours 34 minute 28 seconds to secure the top finish in open category for foreigners. He finished ahead of Leif David Christensen (6 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds) of Australia and Daniel Karen (6 hours 55 minutes 4 seconds) of Israel. The top three finishers bagged purse of Rs 50,000, Rs 35,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

Nepali athletes secured top three finish in women's open marathon with Ang Dami Sherpa topping the list with the timing of 6 hours 5 minutes 43 seconds. Dawa Doma Sherpa (6 hours 17 minutes 55 seconds) and Nirkala Rai (6 hours 33 minutes 6 seconds) stood second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, Andrew Skidmore (4 hours 15 minutes 20 seconds) of USA, Tal Yagur (4 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds) of Israel and female runner Danielle Wolfson (4 hours 28 minutes 33 seconds) of Israel secured top three positions in half marathon for foreigners.

The marathon supposed to be held annually on May 29, the day Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary conquered the highest peak of the world for the first time in human history in 1953, was postponed in this edition due to the April 25 earthquake and its aftershocks.

The 13th edition featured a total of 54 runners including 27 Nepalis and foreigners each.

According to the organizers, Himalaya Expedition, this year's edition was done for the "recovery of tourism" and to "give continuity to this event."