- Hayle becomes first repeat champion in Prague Marathon's 30-year history
- Welde clocks third-fastest women's time ever recorded in Central Europe
- Ethiopian runners claim double victory with 4:26 winning margin combined
For the first time in three decades, the Prague International Marathon crowned a repeat champion as Ethiopia's Lemi Berhanu Hayle delivered a masterclass in strategic racing. The 2016 Boston Marathon winner shattered the psychological 2:06 barrier with a 2:05:14 finish, leveraging his signature negative split strategy between kilometers 20-35. Sports physiologists note Hayle's 4:43/km pace in high-altitude training regions contributed to his sustained 29km solo breakaway.
Bertukan Welde's 2:20:55 victory in the women's division highlights Ethiopia's depth in endurance sports. Analysis of GPS data reveals Welde maintained a remarkable 96% pace consistency despite Prague's challenging Charles Bridge ascents. This performance positions her as a potential contender for Ethiopia's Olympic marathon team selection next month.
The economic impact of Prague's marathon continues growing, with city officials reporting €23.6M in tourism revenue this year - a 17% increase from Hayle's 2023 victory. Hotel occupancy rates near the Old Town Square reached 94% during race weekend, underscoring the event's growing prestige in the World Marathon Majors qualification circuit.
Technical innovations played a crucial role in this year's outcomes. Over 68% of elite runners wore prototype carbon-plated shoes with adaptive cushioning systems, including Hayle's custom 186-gram racing flats. Sports engineers suggest these designs reduce metabolic cost by 3.8% compared to previous models - a critical edge in sub-2:06 attempts.
Regional development initiatives are yielding results, as evidenced by Japan's Tetsuya Yoroizaka becoming the first Asian podium finisher since 2015. The Osaka-based runner attributed his 2:09:10 breakthrough to altitude simulation training at Mount Fuji's new endurance center, a €14M facility opened ahead of Tokyo's Olympic legacy program.