Riga Marathon

Riga Marathon
File:Riga marathon logo.png
Date	May
Location	Riga, Latvia
Event type	road
Distance	Marathon, Half marathon, 10k, 5k
Established	1991
Course records	Marathon D.K. Kimwetich 2:11:45 (M; 2016) A. Tigish 2:36:51 (F; 2014) Half marathon I.M. Wachira 1:05:26 (M; 2016) J. Prokopčuka 1:10:27 (F; 2012)
Official site	nordearigasmaratons.lv

The Riga Marathon is an annual road marathon, held in Riga, Latvia. The main sponsor of the marathon from 2007 to 2014 was Nordea, currently being sponsored by Lattelecom. It was established in 1991, but has only been a member of AIMS since 2007. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status.

Riga Marathon is one of the fastest growing marathons in Northern Europe. By 2013 the number of participants reached 20 020 people from 65 countries, of whom 1278 competed in the marathon distance. In 2010, however, there were 11 457 participants over five different distances, which already by then was an increase of 25% compared to 2009.

As of 2013, the prize money received by the winner of the marathon is 3000 euros, with the winner of the half marathon distance receiving 1000 euros. Money prizes are received also by the second and third-place finishers, with additional 850 euros awarded to the highest placed Latvian runners in each of the distances.

The start and finish line of the marathon is traditionally set next to Riga Castle, and part of the track runs through the cobble-stoned streets of Old Riga as well as across Daugava river over both Vanšu and Southern Bridge.

Winners

Marathon

Key:       Course record

Year	Men's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)	Women's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)
2016	Dominic Kangor	Kenya	2:11:45	Shitaye Gemechu	Ethiopia	2:38:40
2015	Haile Tolossa	Ethiopia	2:12:28	Meseret Eshetu	Ethiopia	2:37:03
2014	Yu Chiba	Japan	2:13:44	Ayanu Tigist	Ethiopia	2:36:51
2013	Duncan Koech	Kenya	2:15:34	Aberash Nesga	Ethiopia	2:40:30
2012	Titus Kurgat	Kenya	2:16:53	Iraida Aleksandrova	Russia	2:37:37
2011	Julius Kuto	Kenya	2:15:48	Desta Tadesse	Ethiopia	2:37:14
2010	Slimani Benazzouz	Morocco	2:17:33	Maryna Damantsevich	Belarus	2:38:16
2009	Oleg Gur	Belarus	2:18:35	Katsiaryna Dziamidava	Belarus	2:47:30
2008	Sammy Rotich	Kenya	2:16:42	Kaja Vals	Estonia	3:13:54
2007	Johnstone Changwony	Kenya	2:18:30	Ludmila Rodina	Russia	2:50:07
2006	Yuri Vinogradov	Russia	2:41:57	Laura Zariņa	Latvia	3:04:31
2005	Vjačeslavs Bambāns	Latvia	2:45:58	Kaja Mulla	Estonia	3:11:09
2004	Dmitrijs Sļesarenoks	Latvia	2:27:09	Modesta Drungiliene	Lithuania	2:58:29
2003	Arūnas Balčunas	Lithuania	2:28:07	Aušra Kavalauskiene	Lithuania	3:05:26
2002	Arūnas Balčunas	Lithuania	2:31:25	Anita Liepiņa	Latvia	3:12:16
2001	Ziedonis Zaļkalns	Latvia	2:27:25	Laila Ceika	Latvia	3:11:45
2000	Ziedonis Zaļkalns	Latvia	2:30:59	Aušra Kavalauskiene	Lithuania	3:12:11
1999	Arūnas Balčunas	Lithuania	2:37:10	Laila Ceika	Latvia	3:37:21
1998	Ziedonis Zaļkalns	Latvia	2:33:41	Laila Ceika	Latvia	3:27:49
1997	Normunds Fedotovskis	Latvia	2:33:05	Kaja Mulla	Estonia	3:12:26
1996	Aleksandrs Prokopčuks	Latvia	2:31:46	Inita Drēziņa	Latvia	3:30:42
1995	Ziedonis Zaļkalns	Latvia	2:32:44	Galina Bernat	Latvia	3:02:11
1994	Normunds Ivzāns	Latvia	2:43:09	Laila Ceika	Latvia	3:19:56
1993	Aleksandrs Prokopčuks	Latvia	2:26:41	Svetlana Șepelev-Tcaci	Moldova	2:55:07
1992	Gusman Abdulin	Kazakhstan	2:21:29	Olga Youdenkova	Belarus	2:47:28
1991	Vladimir Kalenkovich	Belarus	2:28:27	Alla Doudayeva	Belarus	2:43:53

Half marathon

Key:       Course record

Year	Men's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)	Women's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)
2016	Ibrahim Mukunga	Kenya	1:05:26	Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	1:16:06
2015	Jānis Girgensons	Latvia	1:06:20	Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	1:13:24
2014	Ibrahim Mukunga	Kenya	1:05:56	Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	1:14:52
2013	Jānis Girgensons	Latvia	1:07:24	Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	1:14:39
2012	Valērijs Žolnerovičs	Latvia	1:06:04	Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	1:10:27
2011	Sergei Lukin	Russia	1:06:28	Lyubov Morgunova	Russia	1:15:01
2010	Valērijs Žolnerovičs	Latvia	1:05:40	Irene Chepkirui	Kenya	1:14:04
2009	Joel Komen	Kenya	1:06:49	Daniela Fetcere	Latvia	1:23:05
2008	Pavel Loskutov	Estonia	1:05:52	Helen Decker	United Kingdom	1:20:00
2007	Dainius Saucikovas	Lithuania	1:09:17	Ilona Marhele	Latvia	1:22:21
2006	Viktors Sļesarenoks	Latvia	1:15:20	Anita Liepiņa	Latvia	1:33:43

Victories by country

Note: Marathon and Half Marathon statistics only

Winners by country

Country	Total	Marathon (men's)	Marathon (women's)	Half Marathon (men's)	Half Marathon (women's)
Latvia	31	10	8	5	8
Kenya	10	6	0	3	1
Lithuania	7	3	3	1	0
Belarus	6	2	4	0	0
Ethiopia	6	1	5	0	0
Russia	5	1	2	1	1
Estonia	4	0	3	1	0
Morocco	1	1	0	0	0
Kazakhstan	1	1	0	0	0
Japan	1	1	0	0	0
Moldova	1	0	1	0	0
United Kingdom	1	0	0	0	1

Multiple winners

Athlete	Country	Wins	Years	Distance
Jeļena Prokopčuka	Latvia	5	2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016	Half Marathon
Laila Ceika	Latvia	4	1994, 1998, 1999, 2001	Marathon
Ziedonis Zaļkalns	Latvia	4	1995, 1998, 2000, 2001	Marathon
Arūnas Balčunas	Lithuania	3	1999, 2000, 2003	Marathon
Aleksandrs Prokopčuks	Latvia	2	1993, 1996	Marathon
Aušra Kavalauskiene	Lithuania	2	2000, 2003	Marathon
Valērijs Žolnerovičs	Latvia	2	2010, 2012	Half Marathon
Jānis Girgensons	Latvia	2	2013, 2015	Half Marathon

External links

• Riga Marathon
• Riga Marathon Photos 2014