Bengaluru Marathon 2024: Asian Games medallist Kartik Kumar wins men’s elite race; KM Laxmi clinches women’s title

Asian Games medallist Kartik Kumar won the men’s elite race at the Bengaluru Marathon 2024 on Sunday while KM Laxmi bagged the women’s crown.

This was the 11th edition of the Bengaluru Marathon, a category E World Athletics Label Road Race. This year it was also certified as a National Open Marathon by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The race was flagged off from the Kanteerava Stadium.

Kartik Kumar, who won the 10,000m silver medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou ast year, topped the field by stopping the clock at 2:22:50.

Pradeep Singh Chaudhary came in second with 2:23:35 while Harshad claimed the third spot in the men’s race with a time of 2:25:50.

Last year, Anish Thapa clocked 2:18:06 to win the 10th edition.

In the women’s race, KM Laxmi emerged head and shoulders above the competition with a time of 3:00:21.

Last year’s champion Jyoti Gawate had to settle for third place with a time of 3:25:21. Ashvini Jadhav, who finished behind Gawate in the 2023 edition, held onto her second spot after completing the race in 3:12:42.

India’s men’s marathon national record is 2:12:00, set by Shivnath Singh in Jalandhar in 1978, and the women’s mark of 2:34:43 has been with OP Jaisha since 2015.

The half-marathon run saw Ashok Bind (1:12:05) claim top podium followed by M Nanjundappa (1:12:53) and Manikanta P (1:14:41). In the women’s section, Tejaswini (1:25:16), Manisha Joshi (1:35:12) and Bugalee Kumari Gurjar (1:35:31) filled the podium spots.

Bengaluru Marathon 2024 winners

Men’s marathon

1. Kartik Kumar - 2:22:50
2. Pradeep Singh Chaudhary - 2:23:35
3. Harshad - 2:25:50

Women’s marathon

1. KM Laxmi - 3:00:21
2. Ashvini Madan Jadhav - 3:12:42
3. Jyoti Gawate - 3:25:21

Men’s half- marathon

1. Ashok Bind - 1:12:05
2. M Nanjundappa - 1:12:53
3. Manikanta P - 1:14:41

Women’s half- marathon

1. Tejaswini - 1:25:16
2. Manisha Joshi - 1:35:12
3. Bugalee Kumari Gurjar - 1:35:31