Morrocan Othmane El Goumri Wins Sydney Marathon; Betsy Saina Claims Tight Women’s Race

Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
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Morrocan Othmane El Goumri Wins Sydney Marathon; Betsy Saina Claims Tight Women’s Race

Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)
Marathon participants run through The Rocks during the 2023 Sydney Marathon in Sydney, Australia, 17 September 2023. (EPA)

Moroccan Othmane El Goumri and Kenyan-born American Betsy Saina have won the men's and women's races at an unseasonably warm Sydney Marathon on Sunday.

The 31-year-old El Goumri finished the hilly 42m kilometer (26-mile) course around prominent Sydney landmarks in 2:08:20 to win his first marathon title since winning the Dublin Marathon in 2019.

Kenya's Laban Kipngetich Korir was second in a time of 2:08:43, with Ethiopian Getaneh Molla Tamire a further minute and a half behind in third.

Saina, who attended Iowa State University and now represents the United States, finished in 2:26:47 and held off a late challenge from Ethiopian Rahma Tusa Chota to win the women's race by six seconds. Gladys Chesir Kiptagelai of Kenya was third in a time of 2:28:41.

Canada's Joshua Cassidy won the men's wheelchair event, with Australia's Madison de Rozario winning the women's race.

The Sydney Marathon is in the second year of a three-year candidacy in its attempt to become the seventh World Marathon Major, alongside races in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo and Berlin.

This year saw more than an Australian record 17,000 participants register for the event which takes in some of the city's most famous landmarks including crossing the Sydney Harbor Bridge and finishing at the Sydney Opera House.



China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
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China’s Huang and Sheng Win First Gold of Paris Games at Air Rifle Mixed Team Event

 China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao pose on the podium after winning the gold of the shooting 10m air rifle mixed team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 27, 2024. (AFP)

China's Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao won the first gold medal of the Paris Games on Saturday in the 10 meters air rifle mixed team event.

Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun of South Korea claimed silver and Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan were awarded bronze.

Three years after Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won the gold in Tokyo, compatriots Huang and Sheng made sure China retained it.

The reigning world champions topped the qualifying round ahead of their Korean rivals at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

The gold medal round was not really a cakewalk though despite them racing to a 14-8 lead after the first 11 shots.

Keum and Park staged a late comeback to reduce the gap at 14-12 but the Chinese pair prevailed 16-12 in the end.

Le and Satpayev gave Kazakhstan their first medal of the Paris Games with a 17-5 romp against the German pair of Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich.