Mumbai Marathon 2023: Ethiopians Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot set new course records

Ethiopians Hayle Lemi and Anchalem Haymanot won the men’s and women’s elite races, respectively, at the Mumbai Marathon 2023 with new course records on Sunday.

Hayle Lemi set the new course record with a timing of 2:07:32, beating the previous best of 2:08:09 set by compatriot Derara Hurisa in 2020. Anchalem Haymanot, meanwhile, won the women’s race in 2:24:15 and bettered the course record of 2:24:33 set by Valentine Kipketer in 2013.

Competing on a pleasant winter morning, Hayle Lemi started the men’s race with intent and raced ahead of the pack early. Lemi then paced his run alongside Derara Hurisa and Kenya’s Philemon Rono, a training partner of two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge.

Lemi, who won the Boston Marathon in 2016, then picked up speed as the runners approached the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link towards the halfway stage. He eventually beat second-placed Philemon Rono by a difference of one minute and 12 seconds. Hailu Zewdu of Ethiopia came third with a timing of 2:10:23.

Anchalem Haymanot, meanwhile, narrowly pipped countrywoman Rahma Tusa by seven seconds in the women’s elite race while the third place on the podium went to Letebrhan Haylay, who finished in 2:24:52.

Indian runners at Mumbai Marathon 2023

Among Indian elite runners, 2018 champion Gopi T won the men’s race in 2:16:41 while Chavi Yadav won the women’s race in 2:50:35. 

Gopi T was closely followed by Man Singh, who came second in 2:16:58 while Kalidas Hirave completed the Indian men’s podium, clocking 2:19:54. 

Chavi Yadav, meanwhile, put on a stunning show to beat second-placed Arati Patil by a margin of 10 minutes and nine seconds. Renu Singh came third among the Indian women in 3:01:11.

Mumbai Marathon 2020 men’s champion Srinu Bugatha and Olympian Sudha Singh failed to finish in the top three. 

Sunday’s race was the 18th edition of the Mumbai Marathon, which is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race event. The race wasn’t held for the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mumbai Marathon 2023 winners

Overall elite men

1. Hayle Lemi (Ethiopia) - 2:07:32 (new course record)

2. Philemon Rono (Kenya) - 2:08:44

3. Hailu Zewdu (Ethiopia) - 2:10:23

Overall elite women

1. Anchalem Haymanot (Ethiopia) - 2:24:15 (new course record)

2. Rahma Tusa (Ethiopia) - 2:24:22 

3. Letebrhan Haylay (Ethiopia) - 2:24:52

Indian elite men

1. Gopi T - 2:16:41 

2. Man Singh - 2:16:58 

3. Kalidas Hirave - 2:19:54 

Indian elite women

1. Chavi Yadav - 2:50:35

2. Arati Patil - 3:00:44

3. Renu Singh - 3:01:11