The Emirates News Agency reported that tens of thousands of runners from across the globe converged on the Russian capital for the Moscow Marathon, which took place on October 13 as the event’s 11th edition. Moroccan athlete Youness Bennar claimed the men’s title by completing the 42.2-kilometer course in 2 hours 11 minutes and 34 seconds, a performance that established a new course record more than two minutes faster than the previous best. His countryman El Mahjoub Dazza followed in second place with a time of 2:11:38, while Dmitriy Nedelin of Russia, the defending champion, secured third in 2:11:40.
Results published by World Athletics show that Alexandra Morozova led the women’s field, finishing in 2:30:35 ahead of Ethiopia’s Nurit Shimels Yimam, who posted 2:30:51, and Russia’s Marina Kovaleva in 2:30:53. A separate 10-kilometer race the day before boosted overall participation numbers, with hundreds of additional runners competing in that shorter distance. The total prize pool for the elite races surpassed 6 million rubles, according to organizers.
Historical records from the Moscow Marathon organizers indicate that participation has expanded considerably since the inaugural race in 2013, when fewer athletes took part, to more recent years that have regularly seen over 10,000 finishers in the full marathon prior to the 2021 cancellation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The course runs along the Moskva River and incorporates some of the city’s most iconic sites, creating a blend of athletic challenge and cultural immersion that appeals to both professionals and recreational runners. Elevation gains remain modest at approximately 100 meters, contributing to fast times in favorable conditions.
Russian outlets such as RIA Novosti noted that local athletes performed strongly in the national classifications, with Nedelin and Morozova heading the Russian standings. The 2024 marathon’s integration into the BRICS Marathon League reflects broader initiatives to build athletic connections among partner countries. Women’s course record holder Sardana Trofimova set her mark of 2:28:02 in 2020, a standard that stood unchallenged this year.
According to data maintained by the event organizers, the weekend program extended beyond the main marathon to include children’s races and relay formats, further elevating the total number of participants toward the tens of thousands. This multifaceted approach has helped sustain the event’s popularity as one of Russia’s premier mass running festivals. The strong international turnout, including competitors from Africa, Europe and Asia, added depth to the competition across all categories.
