Haftu Teklu will defend the title for the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona 2022

• The Ethiopian runner, winner of the last edition of this race and who holds the circuit record, will be the protagonist of this year’s edition.

• The organization reveals the model of the medal that the finishers will receive.

• Genzebe Dibaba withdrew at the last minute due to injury.

The countdown for the 32nd edition of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona. Three weeks before the celebration of this event, which will take place on Sunday, 3rd of April, we reveal the names of the main elite athletes who will take part in the race.

Elite athletes

Last year’s winner, the Ethiopian runner Haftu Teklu, will start as the main favorite for victory. The runner, who made his debut in the Barcelona’s race last year, not only won the race, but also set a new course record, stopping the clock at 59.39″. This 2022, he returns with the aim of revalidating his victory, as he has manifested in his own words: “The organization gave me the opportunity, as an unknown athlete, to participate in a race that it is important as the Barcelona’s half-marathon. This fact motivated me a lot to try to win on my debut. So, this year, I will go out with the goal of finishing before one hour. I am a more experienced runner now and I already know the circuit. I will have strong rivals, but I will run to defend my title with all my strength”.

Teklu will not have it easy, as he will be competing for the title with compatriots as Abebe Gashahun (59.46″), Antenatyehu Dagnachew (59.48″), and Abdisa Tola (59.54″), as well as Kenyan runners Titus Mbishei (59.55) and Victor Chumo (59.58″). All of them, with times under one hour, will try to improve their times on the fast Barcelona’s course.

They will also be accompanied by elite European athletes in the search of personal bests, such as the Swedish runner of Spanish origin, Emil Millán de la Oliva. Millán will be aiming for the Swedish half-marathon record. To achieve it, he is currently in Kenya with his coach, preparing for the race on the 3rd of April.

For the female category, the athlete Genzebe Dibaba, confirmed that, for this edition, she has been forced to withdraw at the last minute due to injury. The Ethiopian runner, holder of eight world records, regrets not being able to participate in the race: “I was really looking forward to compete in Barcelona because it has always gone well for me there and I have very good memories of my performances on the indoor track in Sabadell. Unfortunately, an injury will prevent me from competing this time. I hope that I will recover soon and that the organizers will give me a new chance to participate in 2023 on this circuit, one of the best in the world”.

The headliners will be the Ethiopian runners Asnakech Awoke (1.07.04) and Alemaz Samuel (1.08.53). They will be accompanied by the debutants Rediet Daniel Molla (Ethiopia) and Magaret Kipkemboi (Kenya).

On her part, Cristina Silva Feliu, the best Spanish runner in the last edition of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona, has earned, being 34 years old, a position amongst the elite. The Barcelona runner is especially looking forward to this next edition of the race: “Running in my city is always special, it is a race that is on my annual calendar. One of my favorite races, because my friends and family can support me. This gives me extra motivation to try to improve on last year’s performance”.

Finisher’s medal

All the participants of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona who cross the finish line will receive the precious finisher’s medal. A design that the organizers have already presented with the claim of the race “Time to be the first” engraved on a silver background and with the turquoise blue ribbon, the characteristic color of the race, will be able to be worn by all finishers of 2022.

Confirmation of the course

The circuit of the eDreams Mitja Marató Barcelona 2022 will keep the same course as in the past editions. The success of this circuit, one of the fastest in the world in this distance, makes it attractive for the elite but also for the popular runners, who see in this race a great opportunity to improve their personal performances.