A new participation record crowned this 20th anniversary. Nearly 8,450 registered participants launched themselves on Sunday on the Promenade des Anglais across the four races offered. A particularly present Nice audience, optimal racing conditions, radiant sunshine, and a choice lineup marked this new edition. Kenya confirmed its superiority in the queen distance with Levi MATEBO’s victory in 1h00’06”.
2 km P’tits Champions to start the festivities
8:30 am, the budding champions of the 2 km P’tits Champions kicked off the event. Never since its creation had the juniors’ race seen such success. Thus 465 registered participants ran this year on the same course as their seniors. Missipsa IDOUGHI took the first podium spot in 6’39”.
La Niçoise / nice-matin, a popular success
Fifteen minutes later, it was the turn of participants in the popular race La Niçoise / nice-matin in support of breast cancer awareness, with the backing of Défi de Femmes association and the Dow group, to set off. For this second year, the event was a new success with more than 1,400 participants in total. Nathalie DAPONTE takes the lead in 15’48”.
At 9:30 am, everything accelerated with the simultaneous start of the 10 km and 21.1 km races.
The elite field was poised from the start to impose a very fast pace, particularly thanks to the presence of the competition’s favorite, Kenyan Silas KIPRUTO (bib no. 1), who holds a personal best under an hour.
The first part of the race showed potential record under an hour (Editor’s note: best time recorded over 21.1 km: 1h00′ since 2009) with Kenyan Levi MATEBO leading the way, creating a surprise by taking the lead. At km 7, the main favorite KIPRUTO regained the lead, signaling the promise of an exciting continuation. However, from km 17, the pace decreased, dashing hopes for record-breaking.
The podium was ultimately decided in the final kilometers, with “MATEBO” determined to snatch victory from the favorites by crossing the finish line with a 1’05” lead. In the final standings, Kenyan Levi MATEBO took the top spot in 1h00’06”, followed by KIPRUTO in 1h01’11” and their compatriot Edwin KIPYEGO in 1h01’26”. The first Frenchman, Damien CHAPERON, finished in 13th place with a time of 1h08’53”.
Among the women, the two Ethiopians FEYESE TADESSE and ABABEI YESHANEH secured the first and second places respectively in 1h11’08” and 1h11’13”. The third Kenyan woman DIANA CHEPKEMOI finished in 1h11’35”.
The Mayor of Nice, wearing bib no. 6, finished in 1h54’08”.
In the 10 km race, French runner and first regional Jérémy PIERRAT claimed victory in 31’22″46”’. Among the women, Sylvie PARMENTIER secured first place in 38’45″69”’.
The first regional woman, Marylène DRAILLARD (licensed with GSE MUNICIPAUX DE NICE), finished in 1h21’43”.
A popular success and a date set for 2012
This 20th anniversary gathered a particularly large audience, who came to cheer all these passionate and brave runners.
The organizers invite everyone to join them on April 22, 2012, for the 21st edition!
