Marathon de La Rochelle
The course goes through La Rochelle's historic port
DateLate November
LocationLa Rochelle, France
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Established1991
Course recordsMen: 2:07:13 (2011)
Kenya John Komen
Women: 2:23:38 (2021)
Kenya Celestine Chepchirchir
Official siteMarathon de La Rochelle
Participants6,611 finishers (2021)
5,167 (2019)
6,091 (2018)

The Marathon de La Rochelle is an annual road running event which takes place in late November in La Rochelle, France. It features a full 42.195 km marathon race as well a 10 km race for amateur runners, a half marathon for wheelchair athletes, and a recreational 4 km jog around the city's harbour.

The city of La Rochelle had its first marathon race in 1981. This competition, which featured winners such as Driss Dacha, lasted until 1989 (with shorter 20 km races occurring in 1983 to 1985). Following the absence of a race in 1990, the Marathon de La Rochelle was established in its place, having its first edition on 24 November, 1991.[1] The marathon is one of the most popular in France, having had a record high of 10,000 entrants and 8625 finishers at the 20th edition in 2010.[2] Among French races, only the Paris Marathon has had greater participation.

Following the sudden death of Serge Vigot, the race founder and president of the organising committee, during the 2005 Marrakech Marathon, the event was officially renamed the Marathon De La Rochelle - Serge Vigot in his honour.[3][2]

The race held IAAF Bronze Label Road Race status in 2011.[4]

The course of the race is based on the streets of the central and historical port areas of the city. It has a double-looped figure-8 format and a flat race profile, which makes it easier for elite runners to record fast times.[5] The runners in the marathon are predominantly French, but the elite level races attract East African and other European athletes. The total annual prize money available is typically around 37,000.[1]

The current men's and women's course records are held by Kenya's John Kipkorir Komen (2:07:13 hours) and Goitetom Haftu Tesema of Ethiopia (2:28:24 hours), respectively. The most successful athletes historically at the race are John Ngeny (who won three times straight from 2000 to 2002) and Elizabeth Chemweno (who won three times between 2005 and 2008).[1]

Past winners

Key:   Course record

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 1991  Herve Bouffaux (FRA) 2:23:18  Claudine Golfieri (FRA) 2:53:32
2nd 1992  El Hadi Moumou (FRA) 2:20:31  Galina Ikonnikova (RUS) 2:42:54
3rd 1993  Nourredine Sobhi (FRA) 2:19:19  Anuța Cătună (ROM) 2:37:02
4th 1994  Gilles Diehl (FRA) 2:19:27  Natalia Charanova (RUS) 2:44:52
5th 1995  Andrey Tarasov (RUS) 2:17:11  Annie Coathalem (FRA) 2:40:44
6th 1996  Viktor Rogovoy (UKR) 2:16:14  Irina Permitina (RUS) 2:38:39
7th 1997  Igor Osmak (UKR) 2:17:10  Marina Ivanova (RUS) 2:42:22
8th 1998  Viktor Rogovoy (UKR) 2:15:43  Marina Ivanova (RUS) 2:38:34
9th 1999  Aleksandr Krestyaninov (UKR) 2:15:45  Evelyne Murat (FRA) 2:41:54
10th 2000  John Ngeny (KEN) 2:18:35  Valentina Lunyegova (RUS) 2:40:03
11th 2001  John Ngeny (KEN) 2:16:19  Valentina Enachi (MDA) 2:35:42
12th 2002  John Ngeny (KEN) 2:17:11  Valentina Enachi (MDA) 2:38:55
13th 2003  Elijah Yator (KEN) 2:11:34  Helena Javornik (SLO) 2:31:54
14th 2004  Stephen Rerimoi (KEN) 2:16:08  Halina Karnatsevich (BLR) 2:39:24
15th 2005  Eliud Kurgat (KEN) 2:12:17  Elizabeth Chemweno (KEN) 2:34:50
16th 2006  Peter Biwott (KEN) 2:14:01  Elizabeth Chemweno (KEN) 2:37:58
17th 2007  Johnstone Chebii (KEN) 2:14:17  Flora Kandie (KEN) 2:37:12
18th 2008  Amersisa Ketema (ETH) 2:14:21  Elizabeth Chemweno (KEN) 2:34:52
19th 2009  Oleksandr Sitkovskyy (UKR) 2:10:27  Getnet Selomie (ETH) 2:33:28
20th 2010  Haile Haja (ETH) 2:09:44  Goitetom Haftu (ETH) 2:28:24
21st 2011  John Komen (KEN) 2:07:13  Ture Chaltu (ETH) 2:36:04
22nd 2012  Ishhimael Chemtan (KEN) 2:09:12  Zherfe Boku (ETH) 2:32:59
23rd 2013  Isaac Kosgei (KEN) 2:12:28  Zherfe Boku (ETH) 2:38:00
24th 2014  Afewerk Mesfin (ETH) 2:12:16  Peninah Arusei (KEN) 2:33:10
25th 2015  Norbert Kigen (KEN) 2:09:25  Bekelech Daba (ETH) 2:32:11
26th 2016  Emmanuel Oliaulo (KEN) 2:10:46  Jane Moraa (KEN) 2:30:51
27th 2017  Workneh Tesfa (ETH) 2:11:07  Susan Kipsang (KEN) 2:30:57
28th 2018  Alex Saekwo (KEN) 2:13:23  Beth Muthoni (KEN) 2:40:08
29th 2019  Emmanuel Oliaulo (KEN) 2:08:22  Marion Kibor (KEN) 2:29:51
30th 2021  Edwin Soi (KEN) 2:09:16  Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:23:38

Wins by country

Country Men's race Women's race Total
 Kenya161026
 Ethiopia4610
 France437
 Russia167
 Ukraine505
 Moldova022
 Belarus011
 Romania011
 Slovenia011

References

  1. 1 2 3 Festou, Michel et al (2011-11-27). La Rochelle Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-11-27.
  2. 1 2 Previous Editions. Marathon de la Rochelle. Retrieved on 2011-11-30.
  3. Décès du vice-président du tribunal de Rochefort lors du marathon de Marrakech (in French). Marathons (2005-01-17). Retrieved on 2011-11-30.
  4. Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2011-11-28). Komen breaks La Rochelle record with 2:07:13. IAAF. Retrieved on 2019-04-03.
  5. Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2011-11-26). Kenyans ready to steal the show in La Rochelle - PREVIEW. IAAF. Retrieved on 2019-04-03.
List of winners

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