Deribe Robi and Ashumar Zebenay Claim Ethiopian Double at the Wizz Air Venice Marathon
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Ethiopia celebrated a commanding double victory at the 39th edition of the Wizz Air Venice Marathon, as Deribe Robi and Ashumar Zebenay triumphed on a warm Sunday morning.
Men’s Race
Deribe Robi clinched victory in the men’s race with a time of 2:08:58, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Isaac Cheluko (2:10:54) and Hemmington Kimaiyo (2:11:03).
Pacemakers Jacob Kosgei and Raymond Cheruiyot led a large group of 15 runners through the early stages — passing 5 km in 15:18, 10 km in 30:15, and 15 km in 45:17. By the halfway mark (1:03:41), a front pack of ten runners including Cheruiyot, Simon Mwangi, Ben Chelimo Somikwo, Robi, Kipsambu Kimakal, Moses Koech, and Hammington Kimaiyo remained together, still on course-record pace.
Inside San Giuliano Park, a quartet of Mwangi, Robi, Kimakal, and Gideon Kiprop went through 30 km in 1:30:43. Robi and Kimakal then pulled away by 35 km (1:46:11). On the Ponte della Libertà—a flat, 4 km bridge leading into Venice—Robi launched his decisive move, steadily opening a gap. By the 40 km mark, he was 1:20 clear of Kimakal as the course entered Venice’s historic center, where runners face 14 small bridges in the final 2 km.
The 35-year-old Robi, who owns a personal best of 2:05:58 from Eindhoven 2015, continued his comeback season after injury-plagued years. Earlier this year, he placed seventh in Wuhan (2:10:21) and sixth in Taiyuan (2:11:29).
“I set my lifetime best in 2015 but had many injury problems in recent years. My goal is to run 2:04–2:05 next year. I’d love to return to Venice for the 40th anniversary,” said Robi.
Women’s Race
The women’s race unfolded as another Ethiopian success story. A strong lead pack featuring Abdisalem Salem, Ashumar Zebenay, Abera Birtukan Berhanu, Azalech Masresha, Daizy Jemutai, and Mercy Jebet reached halfway in 1:13:39.
By 25 km (1:27:06), the group was down to four — Birtukan, Zebenay, Masresha, and Jemutai. At 30 km (1:44:35), Zebenay, Masresha, and Jemutai had broken away from Birtukan. Zebenay then made her decisive surge after 30 km, extending her lead to 49 seconds over Jemutai on the Ponte della Libertà. Despite a fall entering St. Mark’s Square, Zebenay maintained her dominance, widening her advantage to more than three minutes by 40 km and crossing the finish line in 2:27:31 — a six-minute personal best.
Masresha completed the Ethiopian double in 2:30:42, while Kenya’s Daizy Jemutai took third in 2:30:50, also setting a lifetime best.
“I realized I could win at 30 km. Since joining a top-level training group in Addis Ababa, I’ve made big progress. I’m from a town about 100 km from the capital,” said Zebenay after her victory.
