Skopje Marathon Explained

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Date:Early May
Location:Skopje, North Macedonia
Type:Road
Distance:Marathon, Half marathon, 5K run
Est:2008
Sponsor:Wizz Air
Participants:125 (2021)
98 (2020)
256 (2019)
Record:Men's: 2:12:36 (2016)
Kiprotich Kirui
Women's: 2:33:37 (2019)
Eunice Muchiri

The Skopje Marathon (Macedonian: Скопски маратон) is an annual marathon held in Skopje, North Macedonia. Marathon is held in October from 2020.

History

The first marathon race in Skopje was organized in 1997. It only lasted for that year and the following year before folding, primarily for financial reasons.[1] After a nine-year break, in 2007, the event was partially revived with a half marathon-only race, and then fully restored in 2008, when three races were run: marathon, half marathon, and a 5K humanitarian race. Erwan Fouéré, European Union Special Representative for the country, helped spark the revival.[2]

Since 2009, the race has been a member race of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).[3]

In 2012, the Skopje Marathon became one of the most significant sporting events in the Republic of Macedonia, as more than 3,600 runners from more than 36 countries attended.[4] That year, the marathon was in the list of Qualifying Marathon Races for the Olympic Games in London.[5]

The 2013 Skopje Marathon featured a full marathon, a half marathon, and a 5K race, and took place on 12 May 2013.[6]

The 2015 edition canceled due to the 2015 Macedonian protests.[7]

The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2020.10.04 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia, with registrants also having the option of either running the race virtually or transferring their entry to another runner or 2021.[8]

Past winners

EditionYearMen's winnerNationalityTime (h:m:s)Women's winnerNationalityTime (h:m:s)
14th [9] 2022Onesmus Kiplagat Kiplimo2:18:12Catherine Cherotich2:38:41
13th2021Dario Ivanovski2:21:27Adrijana Pop Arsova2:40:36
12th2020Serhiy Shevchenko2:22:49Luiza Gega2:35:34
11th2019Tiruneh Chalachev2:15:37Eunice Muchiri2:33:37
10th2018Evans Biwott2:14:08Jedidah Karungu2:51:24
9th2017Kiprotich Kirui2:12:59Stella Barsosio2:33:42
8th2016Kiprotich Kirui2:12:36Gladys Biwott2:40:10
2015Cancelled due to security concerns.[10]
7th2014Emmanuel Samal2:14:26Lucy Murigi2:37:47
6th2013Wycliffe Biwott2:21:56Caroline Kipruto2:48:39
5th2012Patrick Wambugu2:26:41Cecilia Wangui2:54:56
4th2011Dickson Terer[11] 2:23:51Cecilia Wangui2:50:06
3rd2010Tamás Tóth[12] 2:28:56Lucia Kimani2:55:56
2nd2009Sreten Ninković[13] 2:29:07Marija Vrajić2:56:15
1st2008Roman Prodius[14] 2:29:26Lidija Mikloš3:19:34

Notes and References

  1. http://www.distancerunning.co.uk/my-books/2010.q3.Jul-Sep.DistanceRunning.web.html#/16 Distance Running Magazine
  2. http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/?ItemID=A44E715BCCDCB34AAA69F06EA5CEDD11 Скопскиот маратон ита кон елитата
  3. http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/Directory.htm#MAC AIMS Macedonia Races
  4. Web site: May 2012 AIMS Results . aimsworldrunning.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120513134229/http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2012_05.htm . 2012-05-13.
  5. Web site: Qualifying Marathon Races in 2012 for OLYMPIC GAMES in London.
  6. Web site: Skopje Marathon, Macedonia, on 12th May 2013. Skopje Marathon Listing. Race-Calendar.com. 8 August 2011.
  7. http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2015_05.htm May 2015
  8. Web site: The 16th edition of the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon is postponed to October 4th 2020 | Wizz Air Skopje Marathon | Wizz Air Skopje Marathon.
  9. Skopjemarathon.com. 2022. Skopje Marathon. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 October 2022].
  10. Web site: Skopje Marathon Cancelled: Hundreds Gather at the Start Line. May 10, 2015. Independent.mk. May 13, 2015.
  11. (8 May 2011) Кенијците поставија нови рекорди на патеката, Dnevnik (in Macedonian), Retrieved May 8, 2011
  12. (10 May 2010) Унгарецот Тамаш Тот победник на Скопскиот маратон, Utrinski vesnik (in Macedonian), Retrieved November 10, 2010
  13. (11 May 2009)Нинковиќ и Врајиќ најбрзи на Скопскиот маратон, Nova Makedonija (in Macedonian), Retrieved November 10, 2010
  14. (12 May 2008) Димовска со нов македонски рекорд на Скопскиот Маратон, Athletic Federation of Macedonia (in Macedonian), Retrieved November 10, 2010